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?