Cairo, Nov. 14 -- The Heliopolis Cemetery in Egypt, visited by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, on November 14, holds special relevance for India.

It houses a major memorial commemorating over 3,700 British Indian Army soldiers who lost their lives during World War I campaigns in Egypt and Palestine. The original memorial was built at Port Tewfik (Suez Canal) in 1926.

"General Headquarters, Middle East Command was set up in Cairo shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, remaining there throughout the war years. In January 1941, a Royal Air Force Sector Headquarters for Fighter Defence Canal Zone was established. Cairo was also a significant hospital centre during the Second World War, as well as a leave c...