Canal Zoners - Suez Emergency

NOT PUNITIVE BUT A NECESSARY MILITARY MEASURE: THE BUILDING OF “PEGASUS AVENUE” JOINING THE SUEZ GARRISON WITH A WATER FILTRATION PLANT

On December 7, Lieut. General Sir George Erskine, commanding British troops in Egypt, announced that at dawn on the following day British troops would begin the construction of a new road to the water filtration plant outside the port in order to enable the transport of materials to it with out interference and to protect its garrison, which had been subjected to terrorist bomb-throwing, resulting in considerable damage to the plant. On the same day, Brigadier W. Greenacre, Suez District Commander, met the Egyptian Govenor of Suez, Ibrahim Azky el Kholy Bey, and showed him exactly where the road would be made and indicated the buildings that would be demolished to make way for it. The operation was carried out by a party of Royal Engineers assisted by a troops of the 4th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment, with some bulldozers. One battalion of the 16th Parachute Brigade, under the command of Brigadier K.T. Darling, was deployed to protect the working parties. The new road named “Pegasus Avenue” after the badge of the Parachute Brigade, was completed in thirty-six hours, and this included the construction of a Bailey bridge over the Sweet Water Canal. Egyptians who have had their home demolished are to be compensated by the British Government. The infiltration plant provides drinking water for the troops in the Suez area and for the ships entering Port Tewfik at the southern entrance of the Suez Canal.

Stengthening the defences of the water filtration plant to which the new "Pegasus Avenue" leads. A soldier building a barricade of earth and rock while others mount guard		Discussing the plans for the construction of "Pegasus Avenue". The Govenor of Suez with Brigadier Greenacre
Watching a British tank about to plough through an Egyptian mud house during the construction of the new road to the water filtration plant. British troops on guard		Clearing away the rubble left by the tank which demolished the Egyptian houses. An Army bulldozer at work preparing the ground for the road
The price of guerrilla warfare against the British - houses destroyed - inhabitants compensated		Clearing the way for the construction of "Pegasus Avenue" - dynamite charges detonating and reducing Egyptian dwellings to mounds of rubble - operation completed without incident
Charging through a mud hut which lay across the route of "Pegasus Avenue. A British tank making short work of the demolitions necessary before road-making could begin		Commanding the 16th Parachute Brigade, which guarded the working parties constructing the new road, Brigadier K.T. Darling (left)
A general view of the ruins of a village demolished to make way for the new road		Guarding the road-makers, who completed their task in thirty six hours. A British machine gun post on a roof, covering the town of Suez