Heliopolis Memorial

Context: 

Recently, the Prime Minister paid his respects at the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial in Cairo, Egypt.

About the Heliopolis Memorial:

• The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial 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.
• Designed by Sir John Burnet, the original memorial sustained damages during the 1967-1973 Israeli-Egyptian conflict.
• Located at the south end of the Suez Canal, the original Port Tewfik memorial was unveiled in 1926.

Role of the Indian Army in West Asia in the First World War:

• 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, commemorated in New Delhi in a war memorial. 
• Indian soldiers also played a key role in Mesopotamia in the First World War.
• Risaldar Badlu Singh, who was awarded the highest British war time gallantry award, Victoria Cross, posthumously, is commemorated at this war memorial.

News Source: Indian Express