Not sure if this is the right area but, attached photos sent to me from a friend in Holland. They are of Bridges over the Nederweert canal built by the British army. Hoping to receieve more info as to where exactly they are, and their class. Hope Sapper finds them interesting and tell me what the class number referred to. i.e. is a class 40 bridge referring to 40 ton weight limit? caption on photo says the first bridge was built by 51 HD RE during the advance from Weert, Holland.
Bridge classification number . The max weight of a vehicle that could cross that bridge. Two main types, the FBE limited to 9 tons. Bailey which had a single span capacity of 190 ft for 40 ton loads and 150 ft for 70 ton loads. Class 40 bridge would take anything apart from loaded transporters that needed the 70 ton bridge. From British Army Hanbook, George Forty. The Formation Sign on the board looks more like XII Corps. See PeterG's site. http://www.petergh.f2s.com/flashes.html#corps That would fit with page 187 of Monty' Highlanders Patrick Delaforce as "...12 Corps made available 621 Field Sqn and 756, 262 Field companies with bridging equipment..." That was for Operation Ascot 14th-21st November 1944. More photos of Nederweert here, including the same one odf the bridge. fotos nederweert Same church spire too. I'm getting good at IDing towns by their churches . Aslo scroll to bottom of this site, same photos http://www.baileybrug.info/WO2.htm also says Nederweert. Another Class 40 bridge mentioned later on page 189 "..early on the 18th Sappers erected a Class 40 bridge over the Zig canal it was named "Cameron Bridge." Also mentioned on Richard's website.www.keep-em-moving.com
On that first picture which bridge does the sign refer to? The one above seems more than a tad flimsy for 40t but the one below looks to be more substantial. The caption does mention the first bridge was done by 51 HD, implies it was improved later?
The bottom bridge, the top bridge is for light traffic crossing the MSR (main supply route). 51 Div were the ones that fought for the bridgehead but the heavy bridging gear came from XII Corps. As you edited in, a smaller bridge, Class9, would be built by Divisional Engineers but the bigger ones by Sappers from Corps or Army level but not necessarily at the same spot.
Yes the number 40 does refer to the tonnage . The canvas assaults boats used for the crossings, were the same boats that were used to to create a lightweight assault bridge. The "Bailey Bridge was the greatest creation of WW2. many WW2 Baileys are still in place around the world today. They came in several types and tonnages, They also came in various road widths ...Like "SS" Single Single ...."SD" Single double..... DD etc They also had a great variety of approaches. In the face of very heavy fire at the bridging site, sometimes the bridge would be built on the road. twice as long to get balance and then have a tank or bulldozer to drag it, and push it into position. IT is very "exciting" and "character forming" to build a Bailey under fire. The enemy was always clever enough to know where the bridge crossing would have to be built. So they "Pre" artillery ranged that area. The Bailey has never been improved on. If you look closely at any modern military bridge you are still looking at a a bailey, though perhaps modified. The "Tidal bridge" (Has to move up and down with the tide) we crossed near Pegasus came under such severe artillery, mortar, and air attack that we were forced to move to another site. What amazes me is the number of Veterans that return to Normandy, claim to have been at Pegasus, being we were there, more or less on our own I sometimes wonder where and what these people were doing at Pegasus Bridge. We never saw anyone. In fact we had to break off to defend against direct enemy attacks ourselves. Its rather like the Cafe Gondree near Pegasus. I read ofetn about how the service men went there. We were at Pegasus from the start, and never even saw the blasted place. If anyone did they were in a different war somewhere else from us...... Sapper
You are right 51st HD.. I do recognise them. It may be of interest, while talking about canal and river crossings. to explain the workings. Very often, the Field Companies would be at the sharp end and force the crossings, and then move on, the follow up troops would then strengthen the bridge. Nearly always, as on D day, the 8th brigade led off the assaults. My Company, "unfortunately" was part of the 8th Brigade of the Third British Infantry Division. Cheers Sapper
Thanks for the input guys. My friend in Holland wondered if one of them was Cameron Bridge. The Zig ( ig pronounced eye) canal or Uitwaterings (outwater) canal Tees of the Nederweert, at right angles, it is a drainage canal. The Main road runs along the Nederweert and over the end of the Zig. I believe the "Class 40" bridge was positioned roughly where the main road runs today, over the Zig. Going back there next week so I'll take some more pics. only had a throw away camera with me last time.
Hello, I have photos of all bailey briges that were made by the 21st army group. Welcome Laverno99. Feel free to start your own thread and post the photos if you wish.
The Bailey bridge in the foreground was constructed by 262 Field Company RE (see Welcome to the Nederweert Historiography Foundation, (nederweertsverleden.nl)) under A/OC Capt. Alan Reed (OC Major C.B. Stone). 262 Fld. Coy., R.E. had been placed under command 51 Division R.E. (10 November 1944) for Operation ASCOT.
