Damascus 1914-1918 Indian Memorial
- Country Syria
- Total identified casualties 56 Find these casualties
- Identified casualties from First World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 33.49732, Longitude: 36.25283
Historical Note
This memorial, originally erected in 1961, commemorates 49 Indian, 10 Egyptian and 2 Turkish casualties who had been buried or commemorated in Damascus Indian Cemetery. Their unidentified burials were transferred to Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery when the original site became unmaintainable. The original inscription commemorated these casualties numerically, despite the names of 56 of these men being known. Their names were listed in a memorial register. In 1997, these names were added to the memorial.
You can find more information about historical inequalities in commemoration in our Special Committee’s report.
Location information
Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery is approximately 5 kilometres south-west of the city centre in an area known as Sabara (Arabic for prickly pear). The cemetery is amongst an area of prickly pear plants, which is located behind apartment blocks and therefore is not easily viewed from any main roads. However, visitors can best reach the cemetery by private car or taxi. From Al Umawiyeen Square go along Fayez Mansour motorway to just past the Ar Razi Hospital. Then turn left until you find Al Farabi St. (which runs parallel with Fayez Mansour Motorway) and turn right into it. Go past Casablanca Flowers, past Tello Chocolates and Gifts (all on the left side). Just past No 95 is a small street named Mahmoud Antar (3) Alley. Turn left into this and then right into Abdul Karim Razzooq St. and it's about 150-200 metres along. All the streets are signposted.
Visiting information
Before considering a visit to Syria, the Commission strongly recommends that you consult the advice given by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on the travel section of their website: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
This memorial is located within Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery.
The opening times for the cemetery are:
Saturday to Thursday 08:00 to 15:00.
At all other times the gates are kept locked.
Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance.
For further information and enquiries please contact enquiries@cwgc.org
History information
The Memorial commemorates those formerly buried or commemorated in Damascus Indian War Cemetery which could no longer be adequately maintained. The cemetery was located to the West of the city, beyond the village of El Mezze. It was used by the 11th Combined Field Ambulance and the 66th Casualty Clearing Station between October 1918 and September 1919.
In 1961 the remains of the Muslim soldiers were removed from Damascus Indian War Cemetery and reverently reburied, and earth with which the ashes of the Hindu and Sikh soldiers had mingled was scattered near this spot. Inscribed on the Memorial, in English and Arabic, is the following inscription:
1914 - 1918 HERE ARE COMMEMORATED FORTY NINE SOLDIERS OF THE INDIAN ARMY THREE SOLDIERS OF THE CAMEL TRANSPORT CORPS SEVEN SOLDIERS OF THE EGYPTIAN LABOUR CORPS AND TWO SOLDIERS OF THE TURKISH ARMY WHO WERE BURIED AT DAMASCUS INDIAN WAR CEMETERY OR WERE CREMATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR FAITH.