The Town of Ismailia
We'd like to say a big thank you to Geoffrey Richards
for sending us the image of St Francois de la Salle

During the time, (about three and a half weeks,) Jock spent on an upgrading course at the RASC School in Gebel Mariame, he had chance to purchase some picture post cards of various parts of Ismailia.  Unfortunately the only place he had a chance to visit at that time was the Canal Defence Monument at Gebel Mariame.  This monument is very impressive and could be seen for miles especially when travelling on the Treaty Road.  The picture post cards reproduced here show what can only be described as a ‘Victorian’ Colonial town, and it is recorded that Ismailia is the most Europeanized town in Egypt.

This is understandable as the town was founded in 1863 as the Headquarters for the construction of the Suez Canal and a large part of it was built for the foreign workers of the Suez Canal Company.  The only sign of the turmoil in the early fifties is shown in the ‘Modern Building’ photo where a barbed wire barricade and military vehicles are obvious.  Looking at the pictures they appear to be something out of an early Travel Catalogue, what a great pity that politics ruined it all. The Political Colonialism and Revolution saw the end of one era and the beginning of another.

The church is St Francois de la Salle, a catholic church on Orabi Street,  which you may remember was the other main street that ran parallel to  Sultan Hussein. Orabi Street ran north from the Sweetwater up to Ish  Railway Station and the adjoining hotel where the express buses from Cairo terminated.
 

Sultan Hussein St	Sultan Hussein St..
Negrelli St.	Public Gardens
Palace Hotel	The Station
Nile Canal	Modern Building
Canal Defence Memorial	St Francois de la Salle
The area near to French Square Sent to us by  Geoffrey Richards	Near to the Sweet Water canal lock Sent to us by  Geoffrey Richards

We are sure the pictures will bring back memories to those Suez Veterans who managed to visit Ismailia and perhaps more pleasant ones to those who explored the town before the troubles started in late 1951, or after the troubles had died down and the town was ‘in bounds’ again.  It is possible that more decent pictures of Ish can be added at a later date.

Aye, Jock Marrs and Dick Woolley. January 2004.