Vues du Canal de Suez - Views of the Suez Canal', Egypt, 1870 (c)

Photograph postcard, 1870 (c).

A souvenir postcard in French and English showing shipping on the Suez Canal. Postcards like this were available to British travellers and service personnel en route to India and South East Asia.

Before the opening of the canal in 1869, passage to India could take months, either by sea round the Cape of Good Hope or by the overland route across Egypt. Through the canal, the journey from Portsmouth to Bombay was reduced to a matter of weeks.

From an album of photographs compiled by Colonel C A Mercer, 19th Regiment and 4th Regiment of Gurkha Infantry, India, 1868-1878.

According to the Hodson Index of Indian Army officers Colonel Charles Archibald Mercer (1847-1923) joined the British Army as an ensign, serving with the 19th (The 1st Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot and the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot. Mercer served on the North West Frontier of India with the 19th in the Black Mountain Expedition (1868). He went on to serve with the 4th Gurkha Regiment, rising to the rank of colonel.