See: YouTube - Crossing A WW2 Bailey Bridge Belgium This is on the Leopoldsburg Canal, close to Adegem and the Dutch border south of Eede. It was crossed by the Canadians in October 1944, and this bridge built. The bridge is still very much in use.
Ah , quite away NE from Moerbrugge, I'm getting my canals mixed up. Any idea who crossed there first, was it an opposed crossing?
Assault on the LEOPOLD CANAL October 1944. Extract from the Regt War Diary Rob 7th October. After a quiet night the regiment began firing a programme in support of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade who were the first to establish a bridge-head over the LEOPOLD CANAL. The 3rd Super Heavy Regiment RA, who were not engaged in the programme, fired Artillery R shoots on FLUSHING, OOSTBURG and SCHOODIJKE. This battle proved to be a difficult and tenacious one, particularly for the infantry. The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade who were the first over, did not succeed in making much headway and were pinned down a few hundred yards from the north bank of the Canal and were to remain there for several days. A good portion of the 3rd Can Inf Div’s Artillery had been deployed in support of the 7th Brigade on the LEOPOLD. In support of the 9th’s amphibious assault was one regiment from the 4th Can Div and the British 10th Medium Regiment RA, which was used to fire DF (SOS).
Thanks Paul, What a lovely bit of kit! Crossed it a few times myself. I bet it didn't take a week to erect though, and it wasn't reserved for pedestrians. Les
Hang about ....! Was it my eyes, or my memory, deceiving me? Only, we've had a drop of water, here, of late. And it was featured on the (pubs TV) news the other night. I was sat there, gazing idly at these scenes of people in waders, soldiers passing sand bags ~ the usual stuff ~ when I found myself looking at a newly erected bridge. There and then I said, " That's a Bailey Bridge, isn't it?! ". To which the nearest guy simply muttered, " Aah, the army put that up ... ". I'd seen a photo of one of them, on here, just days before. Certainly looked as I remembered. And the one on TV ~ as I remember ~ looked just like that! Anyone know? Would the Irish Army still be using them?
