Naming Of Bailey Bridges

Discussion in 'General' started by Steve Speke, Dec 6, 2009.

  1. Steve Speke

    Steve Speke Junior Member

    Does anyone know how the naming of Bailey Bridges is decided upon? My reason for asking is I have a picture of a Bailey Bridge named in honour of my late Uncle and have been trying to find its location for a number of years.
     
  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Welcome, Steve.

    I don't believe that there was any formal system for naming bridges.

    Do you know what unit your Uncle was with, that might allow some of us to narrow down the search? If your Uncle died during the war, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database should also have that information.
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Are there any Formation signs on the nameplate of the bridge?
    It'd give a clue to who built it.
     
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Signs might also have a map reference (MR) painted on them.
     
  5. Steve Speke

    Steve Speke Junior Member

    I have been engaged in this search for some time and have a lot of information. My Uncle Leslie Webb was with the 14th Field Squadron Royal Engineers and was killed (along with 2 colleagues) while attempting to defuse a BAR mine in the vicinity of Chenedolle on the 21st August 1944. I have pictures of the bridge bearing his name it is a dual lane bridge with one side signed as 40 and the other as 70. I have the war diary for the 14th field squadron but the is no mention of the bridge being built. The 14th were part of the guards armoured divsion. I believe that the bridging troop were the 11th, is their war diary likely to give any more information?
     
  6. Steve Speke

    Steve Speke Junior Member

    The sign says " Webb bridge dedicated to Cpl Webb L by members of his squadron" in the top corner of the sign is a number either a 46 or a 48.
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  8. Steve Speke

    Steve Speke Junior Member

    I can post a pic I have 2 but 1 is very poor quality and as I'm new here can someone let me know how I post the pics.
    Thanks
     
  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  10. idler

    idler GeneralList

    46 would be the serial number for one of the Field Squadrons and suggests they built it, not the Bridging Troop (52).

    A quick skim through Verney's The Guards Armoured Division: A Short History suggests the first bridge(s) built after Normandy was on the Albert Canal at Beeringen. I'll post now and keep skimming...
     
  11. Steve Speke

    Steve Speke Junior Member

    I think I have managed to attach the first picture, I will have to scan the other one in and try and improve it later this week.
     

    Attached Files:

  12. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The other history (Rosse & Hill) mentions a blown bridge short of the Belgian border on 32 Gds Bde's axis Orchies-Lesdain-Antoing-Leuze-Brussels. It was bypassed by the leading elements (Welsh Guards) but the Division may have bridged it sooner rather than later for maintenance. This was 3 Sep 44 - does the 14 Fd Sqn WD say which Bde they were with for the advance?
     
  13. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Ah - not a water obstacle - back to the drawing board...
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Steve and welcome to the forum. I hope you don't mind but I took the trouble of posting the picture for you.
    [​IMG]

    That is some bridge !

    Could this just be a case of an unofficial naming by his CO and mates from his unit that was recognised by them but not officially?
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  16. Steve Speke

    Steve Speke Junior Member

    It could have been named by is squadron unofficially but as you will see when I manage to post the other pic the sign looks quite 'official' and permanent. You can just see the sign on the lefthand side of the bridge in the pic I have posted. I will try and post some of the war diary this week but after Les was killed the entries for August are as follows;

    22nd Extensive blowing of craters for cow clearing in area Buray - Chenedolle - pierres.
    23rd Water point at 875304 construction. Average daily yield 15,000 glls.
    24th to 26th maintenance and construction of water points at 876905 and 8585287. Average daily yields 18,000 glls.
    27th to 31st Construction of tank track from Caligny to Motilli. Refitting.

    it has been suggested that the bridge may be along the tank track and I have found one possible site but the topography doesn't look quite right compared to the pics.
     
  17. Steve Speke

    Steve Speke Junior Member

    here is the scanned in the image from the top, unfortunately its a from a photocopy of the original. the original is lost in the family somewhere and has not been found.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    THis may be totally misleading but I recall a bridge similar to that shown over the Escaut canal.
     
  19. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    Only one type of transport needs a stone bridge that big.
    Not sure if those are rail tracks on the bottom as well.
     

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