Quick answer
Cairo War Memorial Cemetery is a Commonwealth war cemetery in the Old Cairo district where around 2,000 servicemen of the First World War and a few hundred of the Second are buried, many of them Australians and New Zealanders who died in Cairo hospitals after Gallipoli. It is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, is free to enter and takes about an hour, often paired with nearby Coptic Cairo.
Why are so many Anzacs buried in Cairo?
Because Cairo was the main base and hospital centre for Australian and New Zealand troops in 1915–16, and men who died of wounds or disease there were buried in this cemetery. The first contingents of the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force arrived in Egypt in December 1914 to train in the desert, the Australians famously at Mena Camp beneath the pyramids and the New Zealanders at Zeitoun, north of the city.
After the landings at Gallipoli in April 1915, hospital ships carried thousands of wounded back to Egypt. Cairo's grand hotels and pleasure grounds were turned into wards, among them the Heliopolis Palace Hotel, which became No. 1 Australian General Hospital. Those who did not recover, along with men who died of typhoid, dysentery and other illness in the camps, were laid to rest here. Later burials came from the Sinai and Palestine campaign, in which the Australian Light Horse and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles served. Our guide to the Anzacs in Egypt tells the wider story.
Who is buried here?
Servicemen from across the British Empire, with Australians and New Zealanders among the largest groups after the British, plus a smaller Second World War section. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the cemetery holds roughly 2,000 First World War burials and around 340 from the Second World War, along with a number of war graves of other nationalities; treat these as approximate and check the Commission's own figures if accuracy matters to you.
The headstones follow the Commission's uniform design: a national or regimental emblem, name, rank, unit, date of death and age, with a short personal inscription chosen by the family at the foot. Reading those inscriptions, many of them from small towns in New South Wales, Victoria, Otago or Canterbury, is what most visitors remember. Nurses are here too, a reminder of the women who staffed the Cairo hospitals.
What does the Commonwealth War Graves Commission do here?
The Commission, funded jointly by Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, India and South Africa, maintains the graves, headstones, lawns and records in perpetuity. Local gardeners employed by the Commission keep the cemetery watered and planted, which in Cairo's climate is constant work, and worn headstones are re-engraved or replaced when needed.
The Commission's online Find War Dead database lists every person commemorated here with their grave reference, and many cemeteries also keep a printed register in a small box near the entrance. For the person behind the name, the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour and Auckland Museum's Online Cenotaph are the best starting points, along with digitised service records held by the National Archives of Australia and Archives New Zealand.
How do you get there, and how long do you need?
Allow 45 minutes to an hour, and combine it with Coptic Cairo and the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, which are a few minutes away by car. The cemetery lies in the Old Cairo district south of downtown, roughly 20–40 minutes from Tahrir Square or Zamalek depending on traffic, and about an hour from Giza hotels.
Streets around Old Cairo are narrow and not always signposted, so it is easiest with a private driver who has the address in advance; taxis and ride-hail drivers sometimes struggle to find the gate. Mornings are cooler and the light is softer for photographs. If you are tracing a relative, note the plot, row and grave number before you set off, because the cemetery is large enough that searching on foot can take a while.
Opening hours, access and commemorations
Commonwealth war cemeteries in Egypt are free and usually open in daylight hours, but gates may be locked and a caretaker may need to let you in, so check before you go. Hours, security arrangements and whether you need to show a passport can change, so confirm on the Commission's site or ask us to check locally.
Anzac Day services in Cairo are organised by the Australian and New Zealand embassies, and in recent years have been held at one of the city's Commonwealth war cemeteries; whether the public can attend, and the venue, varies by year. Remembrance Day on 11 November is also marked. Contact the embassy well ahead and read current advice on Smartraveller or SafeTravel.
How to visit respectfully
Dress modestly, keep your voice low, walk on the paths rather than across graves, and ask before photographing anyone else.
- Tributes: a small wreath, a sprig of rosemary, a poppy or a photograph of the soldier is welcome at a headstone. Avoid anything that will blow away or need cleaning.
- Caretakers: a small tip to a caretaker who opens the gate or guides you to a grave is customary; see our tipping guide for amounts.
- Heat: there is limited shade between May and October, so bring a hat and water.
- Families: if you are visiting a great-grandfather's grave, tell us when you plan your trip and we can build the day around it.
Many visitors follow this with Heliopolis War Cemetery and, on a longer trip, El Alamein.
Cairo War Memorial Cemetery: FAQs
Are Australians buried in Cairo?
Yes. Many Australian soldiers, and some nurses, who died in Cairo hospitals and camps during the First World War are buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, mostly from 1915–16 after Gallipoli. Search the CWGC Find War Dead database for names and grave references.
Is Cairo War Memorial Cemetery free to visit?
Yes, there is no entry fee. Opening is usually in daylight hours, but gates can be locked and access arrangements change, so check before you go.
How do I find a relative’s grave?
Look the person up in the Commission’s Find War Dead database and note the plot, row and grave reference. The Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour and Auckland Museum’s Online Cenotaph add service details and sometimes photographs.
What is the difference between Cairo War Memorial Cemetery and Heliopolis War Cemetery?
Cairo War Memorial Cemetery in Old Cairo is mainly First World War, with many Anzacs from the Gallipoli period. Heliopolis War Cemetery in the northeast of the city is mainly Second World War and also holds memorials to Indian and other soldiers with no known grave.
Can I attend Anzac Day in Cairo?
Sometimes. The Australian and New Zealand embassies hold an Anzac Day service each year; ask them whether members of the public can attend and where it will be held that year.
