MSB | T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı

Tümgeneral Mehmet Sabri ERÇETİN 1876 yılında Bursa’da doğdu. Mühendishane-i Berri Hümayundan 1898 yılında üsteğmen rütbesiyle mezun oldu.
8 Nisan 1906’da yüzbaşılığa, 9 Temmuz 1908’de kıdemli yüzbaşılığa terfi etti. 1913 yılına kadar ordunun çeşitli kademelerinde görev aldı. Balkan Savaşı’na katıldı. 1913 yılı Edirne’de 5’inci Topçu Alayı 1’inci Tabur komutanı olarak görev yaptı. 29 Kasım 1914’te binbaşı olan ERÇETİN, Çanakkale Cephesi’nde 2’nci Kolordu 5’inci Topçu Alayı 1’inci Tabur komutanı, daha sonra Seddülbahir’de 14’üncü Kolordu Topçu komutanı, Ocak 1916’da 5’inci Topçu Alay komutanı olarak atandı. Daha sonra aynı Alay, Nasıra’da bulunan 8’inci Kolordu 27’nci Tümen emrine girdi. Bu Alayın bir taburuyla Kanal Harekâtı’na katıldı. Mart 1916’da Alay, 3’üncü Tümen emrine girerek Şelali’ye hareket etti. Birinci Gazze Muharebesi’ne katıldı. Daha sonra 22’nci Kolordu Topçu komutanı olarak görev yaptı.
1 Eylül 1917’de yarbaylığa terfi etti. 20 Eylül 1918’de Cenin’de (Filistin’de) İngilizlere esir düştü. Mısır’daki Seydibeşir Esir Kampına gönderildi. 12 Ocak 1920’de esaretten İstanbul’a döndü. 24 Ocak 1920’de Anadolu’ya (Konya) geçerek Millî Mücadele’ye katıldı ve 2’nci Ordu 41’inci Tümen Topçu Alay Komutanlığına atandı. Daha sonra Konya Merkez komutanı oldu. 14 Haziran 1920’de Konya Mevki komutanı, Temmuz 1920’de Çivril Mıntıkası komutanı olarak atandı. (Daha sonra bu birlik Sol Kanat Müfrezesi Komutanlığı adını aldı.) Ekim 1920’de müfrezeye iki alay daha katılarak Mürettep Tümen oluşturuldu ve bu Tümenin komutanlığına atandı. 10 Ocak 1921’de albay olan ERÇETİN, 7 Ağustos 1921’de 4’üncü Tümen Komutanlığına getirildi. 31 Ağustos 1922’de tümgeneralliğe terfi etti. 25 Ağustos 1923’te Edincik’te Çatalca Müstahkem Mevki komutanı, 24 Eylül 1923’te İzmir Müstahkem Mevki komutan vekili ve daha sonra MSB İstanbul Askerî Mahkeme üyesi, 15 Haziran 1924’te 3’üncü Kafkas Tümen komutanı,
31 Ekim 1924’te 61’inci Tümen komutanı, 28 Haziran 1925’te Generaller Mahkemesi daimî üyesi, 31 Ocak 1926’da Erzurum Müstahkem Mevki komutanı olarak atandı. 1929-1930 yılları arasında Büyük Kumanda Kursuna katıldı. 13 Şubat 1932’de Askerî Yargıtay üyeliği görevine getirildi. 19 Aralık 1932’de emekli oldu. Osmanlı Devleti, Alman İmparatorluğu ve Avusturya-Macaristan İmparatorluğu tarafından verilen çeşitli nişan ve madalyalar ile TBMM tarafından verilen İstiklal Madalyası sahibi olan Tümgeneral Mehmet Sabri ERÇETİN, 3 Mayıs 1956’da vefat etmiştir

Major General Mehmet Sabri ERÇETİN was born in Bursa in 1876. He graduated from the Mühendishane-i Berrî-i Hümâyûn (Imperial School of Military Engineering) as a first lieutenant in 1898. He was promoted to the rank of captain on April 8, 1906, lieutenant commander on July 9, 1908. He served in varied positions in the army until 1913. He participated in Balkan War. In 1913, he served as the commander of the 1st Battalion of 5th Artillery Regiment in Edirne. ERCETIN who became major on November 29, 1914 was appointed as the commander of the 1st Battalion of 5th Artillery Regiment of 2nd Corps in Gallipoli Front in the First World War; and later the artillery commander of the 14th Corps in Seddülbahir; the commander of the 5th Artillery Regiment in January 1916. Same Regiment was placed under the Command of the 27th Division of 8th Corps located in Nasıra (a city of Israel). He participated in Suez Canal Expedition with a Battalion of that Regiment. That Regiment moved to Şelali region under the command of the 3rd Division in March 1916. He attended in the First Battle of Gaza. Later, he served as the Artillery commander of the 22nd Corps. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on September 1, 1917. He was captured by the British in Jenin (Palestine) on September 20, 1918. He was sent to Syetbishr (Seydibeşir) Prisoner Camp in Egypt. He was liberated and returned to Istanbul on January 12, 1920. He passed to Anatolia (Konya) on January 24, 1920 and participated in War of Independence and was appointed to Artillery Regiment Command of 41st Division of 2nd Army. Later, he became Konya Provost Marshall. He was appointed as commander of Konya Position on June 14, 1920; the commander of Çivril Zone in July 1920. (Later, this unit was named Left Flank Detachment Command). In October 1920, two more regiments joined the detachment and the Dispositional Division was formed and he was appointed as the commander of this Division. ERCETIN who became colonel on January 10, 1921 was assigned as the Commander of the 4th Division on August 7, 1921. He was promoted to the rank of major general on August 31, 1922. He was appointed as the commander of Catalca Fortress in Edincik on August 25, 1923; as the deputy commander of Izmir Fortress on September 24, 1923 and as a member of Istanbul Military Court of Ministry of National Defence; as the commander of the 3rd Caucasus Division on June 15, 1924; as the commander of the 61st Division on October 31, 1924; as a regular member of Martial Court of Generals on June 28, 1925; as the commander of Erzurum Fortress on January 31, 1926. He attended the Great Command Training Course between 1929 and 1930. He was assigned as a member of Military Court of Appeals on February 13, 1932. He retired on December 19, 1932. Major General Mehmet Sabri ERCETIN who had various decorations and medals decorated by the Ottoman Empire, German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire as well as the Independence Medal decorated by Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), passed away on May 3, 1956.