Port Tewfik Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Tewfik Memorial |
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| Commonwealth War Graves Commission | |
The Port Tewfik Memorial in December 1957
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| For officers and men of the Indian Army killed who gave their lives on the Sinai Peninsula in World War I | |
| Established | 1926 |
| Unveiled | 1926, destroyed 1967 & relocated |
| Location | 29°57′43″N 32°33′30″E / 29.9620°N 32.5582°E near |
| Designed by | John James Burnet, Thomas S. Tait, Charles Sargeant Jagger |
| Total burials | over 4000 |
| Commemorated | 4000 |
| Burials by nation | |
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India
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| Burials by war | |
| Statistics source: CWGC | |
The Port Tewfik Memorial was a special monument built to remember soldiers. It was first located in Port Tewfik, which is now called Suez Port, near the Suez Canal in Egypt. This memorial honored over 4,000 soldiers and officers from the Indian Army who lost their lives during the First World War. They fought in a part of the war called the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
The memorial was also known as the Indian War Memorial. It was officially opened in May 1926 by the Imperial War Graves Commission, which is now known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Famous Scottish architects John James Burnet and Thomas S. Tait designed the original memorial. It also featured beautiful sculptures created by the British artist Charles Sargeant Jagger.
Contents
What Happened to the Memorial?
Sadly, the original Port Tewfik Memorial was destroyed in 1967. This happened during the Six-Day War, when Egyptian troops were retreating from the area.
Where is it Now?
After it was destroyed, the memorial was moved to a new location. It is now part of the Heliopolis War Cemetery in the Heliopolis district of Cairo, Egypt. At this new site, special panels with the names of the fallen soldiers are placed in the entrance buildings of the cemetery. This way, their names are still remembered and honored.
The Heliopolis War Cemetery
The modern Heliopolis War Cemetery is an important place. It not only holds the relocated Port Tewfik Memorial but also other memorials and graves.
The Aden Memorial
Inside the Heliopolis War Cemetery, you can also find the Aden Memorial. This memorial remembers more than 600 soldiers from the Commonwealth forces. They died defending Aden during the First World War. The Aden Memorial was also damaged during the fighting in 1967.
Other Graves
The cemetery is also the final resting place for many soldiers from the Commonwealth. Over 1,700 Commonwealth service members who died during the Second World War are buried here. There are also graves for soldiers from other countries.
See also
- Heliopolis War Cemetery
