Canal Zone Casualties

EGYPT/SUEZ CANAL ZONE, POST WWll DEAD (EMERGENCY 1951-1954)`WGC FACTS.

Analysis of persons interred during the above period in the following War Graves Commission Maintained Cemeteries in Egypt.

These Statistics drawn from the WAR GRAVES COMMISSION LIST, comparing the MOD list name for name against this list there is a deficit of 41 graves  on the WGC list.   These graves relate to deaths which occurred before the hostilities began in 1951.

Enquiries  reveal that there were other  Military graves in the Suez Canal Zone, at the Suez Old Military Hospital Cemetery  Circa WW1 and WW11.   There is also a further Cemetery at Tel El Kebir. The WGC are fairly certain that this does not contain any dead from the relative period.  But will contact if the contrary is confirmed.

There is a vast War Cemetery at Heliopolis of which the aforesaid British New Protestant Cemetery is part. This Cemetery is believed to have over 1000 graves dating back to 1800's Therefore to show the total of MILITARY GRAVES for the period in question, with the exception of those bodies repatriated to the UK and Other
Commonwealth Countries the list must be set out as under.
 

These figures are in stark contrast to the figure of 54 quoted from official sources to the press.   These figures were forwarded to this website by the "EGYPT 1951-1954 AWARD ALLIANCE "

It should be noted this total does not include those killed an the crash of a "York" aircraft which crashed in Malta when flying to the UK with servicemen who had just completed their term of Service in the  Suez Canal Zone.  They
are buried at Intafa in Malta.   It is thought that from inquiries that 48 may have perished in the crash.  In all probability the list supplied by theWar Graves Commission does not include 3 British Army Soldiers   (Deserters)
caught and hanged for the murder of an Egyptian civilian.

In a previous chapter, thanks again to the "Award Alliance Group", for Newspapers Articles of the day, this web-site recorded some of the conditions that faced these women and Children before their Mass-evacuation  to the UK and Cyprus during the "Emergency".

Cyril Blackburn, after months of research at a number of Archives and Records Offices, including the MoD Personnel Services in Wiltshire,   published a list which recorded the the Names of those who died or were killed  during the Emergency,  Only the names of the Army and and Royal Marines, casualties, are on this list, although  the RAF/RAF Regt total casualties are mentioned, so working on the list supplied from both sources (Blackburn/War-Graves Comm) we will start from the following totals:
 

The Army Unit Casualties in decending order are as follows:
 

A closer look at these astounding figures leads to the following conclusions. The Egyptians went after the so-called "Soft" Targets in the following order.

1) Civilians/Married families (Wives, children etc)

2)  Servicemen, un-armed and "Out of Camp".

3)  Slow Army Lorries (and this accounts for the large number of casualties amongst Drivers).

4) Signals and Engineers, who were on repair duties to Telephone Lines, Power lines, Water Pipelines and those who manned Power plants, filtration Units, Petrol Stations. and operating the Railway Trains and Signals.

5) Cooks and Clerks, on "Escort" duty to convoys. RMP on Police patrol and in their dealings with the ever trecherous Egyptian police.

6)The number of casualties sufferd by the Infantry, Para, Commando, and Armoured Units, came about  when they were called in on ambushes of convoys, Police shootings, and terrorist attacks, and when out on the very dangerous
"Search and Destroy"   raids into villages looking for Terrorists, who were known to be in that area.

A number of Jeeps, Land Rovers and Lorries were Forced off the road by oncoming vehicles, and Despatch Riders, had to watch out for wires suddenly being stretched across the road, at head-height, again responsible for many deaths and injuries.

From the Burial dates shown the vast majority of dearths occurred in ( about 2/3 of the Total)1953, and 1954, some time after the first unsuccessful Medal review. The 48 Service personnel killed in the crash of a "York" Aircraft in Malta,(although this crash occurred in early 1955) and  were all returning to the UK after completion of their Service (with the exception of the Crew), All had been in the Canal Zone since 1953 or earlier.  Most were NCO's.

Jock Marrs and the Award Alliance Group

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