Nijmegen Bridge 1944

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Paul Reed, Sep 15, 2007.

  1. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    While doing some War Diary research at TNA this week I came across these excellent photos of Nijmegen Bridge, taken on 6th November 1944.

    The first one is the road bridge, damaged by repaired with a Bailey by the look of it.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Second one shows the damaged railway bridge; 'The Island' in the distance.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Third one shows the Bailey Bridge built between the two original bridges:

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Final one, view from downstream showing all 3 bridges:

    [​IMG]
     
    dbf likes this.
  5. KriegsmarineFreak

    KriegsmarineFreak Senior Member

    Great shots!!
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Good photos Paul, thanks.
    The island is another holiday destination in the near future.
     
  7. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    When I went over on the island that bridge was just taken.
    Great photos.
    Cheers
    sapper
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    When I went over on the island that bridge was just taken.
    Great photos.
    Cheers
    sapper
    Brian,
    I've been reading your Div's history.
    I've got you & 246 Fld Coy down at Lille St Hubert building a Class 9 over the Meuse-Escaut Canal when you lost Lt Cadwallader and it says your lot never went up to The Island until beginning of October crossing the Maas bridge at Grave, with Nijmegen being 5 miles to the north.
    3rd Div, with 43rd & 15th Divs were meant to take part in Operation Gatwick into the Reichswald but it was cancelled and 3rd Div was sent down to the to Overloon, where your war ended.
    Always good to read up in your Div History.
     
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  9. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Absolutely right Owen.
    At that time They had asked for volunteers as dispatch riders, This idiot stepped forward. It was the worst thing I ever did, for it resulted in my being severely wounded later, while collecting the next days battle orders at night.

    I had been given a map case and orders to get to and cross Nijmegen bridge, and get as far as I could on the Island. Reconnoiter and find a company "harbour area" for a possible move up by the Company.

    I found what looked like an engineering workshop with hard standing. I am not sure, but I think it was something like "Schmit"
    I returned to the company with the info, later on all that was forgotten, orders were changed, for we then set off towards Overloon and Venraij.

    One thing is for sure! Never volunteer for anything. But I was a young and adventurous 19 year old. Taking on a part time dispatch riders job, resulted in a life of a severely war disabled volunteering idiot.

    That happened on a lonely road between Overloon and Venraij at about 1am. what was described as "Desultory shelling"

    As to dates and getting events in the right place....Don't Ask Mate. Hopeless... When I went over Nijmegen they had infantrymen in the girder work with rifles and Brens as the Germans floated sea mines down the river hoping to blow the bridge.
    Sapper
     
  10. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I do not know what happened there? can someone remove all but the last?
    Sorry about that. Still mystified.
    Sapper
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  12. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Nijmegen Bridge was a dangerous place to be for weeks after it was taken. It was still under fire in early December 1944.
     
  13. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Thanks for that Owen I do not know what happened. Cheers
    sapper
     
  14. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Bythe way when I post. PLEASE do not expect dates and correct sequences. It is the events I recall, but the sequence in how they occured? Dont ask!
    sapper
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Bythe way when I post. PLEASE do not expect dates and correct sequences. It is the events I recall, but the sequence in how they occured? Dont ask!
    sapper
    Hope it didn't sound like I was trying to catch you out, Brian.
    I was thinking to myself, what on earth was a 3rd Div sapper doing up at Nijmegen?
    Good excuse to dig out the books and have a read again.
     
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  16. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Okay, thought I had a modern image, so a bit of a Then & Now.

    Then:

    [​IMG]

    Now:

    [​IMG]
     
  17. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owen. It may come as a surprise, but at times the company was spread far and wide. I can never recall a time when the Company was together as a unit.
    Perhaps nearly so, in Holland at the Dutch Youth SS training camp? That was the only time I can recall most of them together.

    Some may find that difficult to understand. That was in the nature of the sappers. To give an example, I went to Tilly. miles away from my company, The other side of Normandy! not even in our area of operations. Don't ask me why? except that we never turned down a request no matter from whence it came.

    In some cases the company would be split into various teams, Weert for example where some of them were miles ahead. While a platoon was left behind to complete a bridging task.

    Where the battles in Normandy were one of breaking down the SS Panzer strengths, that later became very fluid. Not only did we travel far and wide. but sometimes having no idea where the other half was.
    The other very peculiar thing was that very often we did not know where we were. daft? Sure is, but it is true. A thousand villages. hundreds of towns. One of the lads tried to trace our path to Bremen, I have it here somewhere.
    One thing is for sure, the calling for part time volunteers for the Despatch riders team cost this old Buzzard dear.
    I will try to find that D day landing sequences paper/
    Sapper
     
  18. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Thought you might like to travel over the bridge again Sapper. A bit different from 1944 thankfully.

    [​IMG]
     
  19. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I recall that day when I went over the bridge, ir was a cold very grey and overcast. later it became Autumn sunny and pleasant....I shall never forget that trip for I was on my own and certainly not sure where the enemy was... I do recall what looked like an engineering place with a hard standing. I also recall the shells that straddled the road. Even after 66 years. Why I volunteered?I shall never know.Nut who knows had I not I might not have got home at all. Makes you think...
    Sapper
     
  20. gliderrider

    gliderrider Senior Member

    I knew a RASC driver who hid under the bridge,whilst it was being shelled. His ammo truck was still on the approach to the Bridge, and his OC told him to take it over, he said he ran onto the Bridge went down the other side and hid from the shelling and the Officer :)

    When he did go back out,well as you can guess the truck was just a heap of metal. He also lost his next truck through as he called it an 'enemy duck' on the island.

    He lost his Brother in Arnhem, and he didnt know till later he was there :poppy:
     

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