Was not the first Bailey Bridge built in Tunisia? it is more likely to be there than Egypt unless the photo was taken latter in the war Have a IWM photo somewhere of a Bailey Bridge built in Tunisia..will see if I can find out where it was built.....
Comparing the original church photograph and the one shown on the site, they look to be one of the same. River in front, it all fits well. Regards Tom
TCS- I would agree - and it is a LONG way from Venafro.....it's a normal parish RC church and the Dome is a bit Coptic - probably a Copic architect doing his own thing. can't recall seeing it though in Padua that is more St Anthony's territory with his tomb in the main Cathedral - and the magnificent mural of St. Maximillian Kolbe in the foyer by Annigoni - who also designed the Morris Minor..... Cheers
Hi Guys, I think that the picture was taken in Italy. The church architecture was almost common in northern Italy so I searched for a baroque church north of Po river and this is, undoubtedly, the result: File:Santa Maria della neve church, Boara Pisani (Padua).jpg - Wikimedia Commons The place is Boara Pisani, near Padua in this web page the same bridge but from the opposite side 2008:n02:copertina [Athesis.News.it] in the attached picture from Google earth in the red circle Santa Maria della Neve church, in the yellow rectangle the aprrox site of bridge and, in the yellow circle the church from Athesis website picture regards http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=47893&d=1300742998 WELL FOUND !!! Rep points awarded
Thank you, let me only underline that the baroque architecture even if similar (especially for the bell tower) is not the same than ortodox or coptic churches. In this case the church building is the discriminating factor regards
Brilliant find - thank you very much indeed! This period 1945 in northern Italy was very wet and the plains flooded heavily. After living for weeks in what he and men of his generation called gum boots, my father, the photographer, refused to wear wellingtons for the rest of his life.
I guess I'm right in saying this is not a Bailey Bridge........picture taken at I believe Medjez-el-Bab.......Image courtesy of the IWM......
No, an FBE - Floating Bridge Equipment. The first Bailey built in an active theatre was indeed in Tunisia. There is a great book on the Bailey Bridge, the name of which escapes me for now, but it is pictured there.
First use of Bailey Bridge on active service photo here. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/136797-post38.html and http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/136859-post49.html from this thread. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-technology-equipment/4367-bailey-bridges.html
Thought for one minute that Page 70 of my Album might provide the answer but although it showed postcards of Padua's churches none of them matched up. Ron