'Jetee de Port-Said avec le Phare', Egypt, 1870 (c)

Photograph postcard, 1870 (c).

A souvenir postcard in French showing the jetty and lighthouse at Port Said, Egypt.

The lighthouse at Port Said was completed just before the inauguration of the Suez Canal in 1869. The reinforced concrete structure was designed by French architect Francois Coignet (1814-1888). It was built to assist shipping travelling through the Canal.

Souvenir postcards like this were available to British travellers and service personnel en route to India and South East Asia.

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.