Heliopolis Memorial

About Heliopolis Memorial: 

• It is part of the larger Heliopolis Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.
• This memorial commemorates the memory of 3,727 Indian soldiers who died fighting in various campaigns in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War.       
• The original Port Tewfik memorial had been unveiled in 1926 and was situated at the entrance to the Suez Canal.
• The memorial was destroyed in the Israeli-Egyptian War of 1967 by retreating Egyptian soldiers and a new memorial was erected in Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in 1980.
• The Indian troops played a key role in securing the Suez Canal in Egypt and in Palestine, where Indian cavalry participated in the Battle of Haifa and also played a key role in Mesopotamia in the First World War.
• Port Tewfik is now known as Port Suez

Key facts about Port Suez

• It is located in Egypt along the northern coastline of the Gulf of Suez.
• The port and city mark the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, which runs north-south through Egypt from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez.
• The port serves vessels transporting general cargo, oil tankers, and both commercial and private passenger vessels.

Q1) What is the significance of the Suez Canal?

The Suez Canal is an artificial waterway located in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It provides a crucial shortcut for international maritime trade, allowing ships to avoid the lengthy and perilous journey around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope.

Source: PM Modi in Egypt: What is the Heliopolis Memorial for Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1?

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