Bailey Bridges

[Gerry Chester]

During my army career we crossed many a Bailey Bridge, most of which had been given names by the sappers who built them.

The one most remembered carried the sign "Twazzabuggatoo" that was built over a gorge. As the southern approach was on a cliff side road requiring an abrupt right-hand turn, it was obvious that the Engineers had built from the northern side - one can but imagine the effort that it must have been to manhandle the equipment down and up the other side.

I know that the sappers of 8th Indian Division faced a similar problem when constructing a bridge over a river south of Ortona, Italy. This they named 'The Impossible Bridge."

Anyone know of more extraordinary difficult to build Bailey Bridges?

[sapper]

Bailey Bridges. Now there is a subject I can talk about in depth. Being in a Field Company Royal Engineers, (They serve at the Sharp end) I have, with my platoon mates built many Baileys, and other assault crossing bridges… most of them under direct fire. From Pegasus bridge, “Tidal Bailey” to Northern Holland.

The Bailey is probably the finest invention in military engineering, they have been put in place at bewildering speed. They come in all shapes and sizes from huge Rhine crossing, down to little ones across canals.

Building assault bridges under direct fire, is an “Education” Always it scared the crap out of me. I can talk at some length about bridging the river Orne, to back up Pegasus bridge. The Sappers were already there, before the Commandos arrived with their Piper!
My Company built the first Assault bridge over the Escaut canal, on the drive North on Market Garden drive to Arnhem. A fearsome night operation, never to be forgotten. “Dantes Inferno” had nothing on this.
Sapper.

[Kiwiwriter]

I will defer to Sapper on Bailey Bridges, but will add that in "The Damned Engineers," by Janice Holt Giles, the history of the 291st US Engineers in the Bulge, she reports that those engineers disliked building them, especially under fire, because they invariably led to a lot of injuries during construction, due to the welding and heavy lifting hazards.

Believe it or not, they are still in use. There is a company with a web page that offers them for sale. I've driven over a few in New Zealand, and they are still efficient bridges.

[sapper]

The Americans had their own bridge system, there was no welding involved with the Baily Bridge System, all the panels and componentswere ready to go, decking..the lot, building a Bailey needed no lifting equipment, everything was designed to be built at speed by Sappers.

These bridges were absolute simplicity. and could be built as required;
single, double single, fixed, or tidal on pontoons, as at Pegasus. some of the war time bridges I am told, are still in place. the simplicity and the lack of any welding or any other fixing, other than that supplied, made it possible to bridge an area in hours.

The success of the Bailey speaks for itself, for they can be found around the world.
We have built a bridge in bours under fire, and seen the armour go charging across immediately. In my opinion one of the greatest inventions in military Engineering. Mind you, damned hard work, but no equipment needed other than man power.
Sapper

[angie999]

A quick Google search produced these links:

http://www.rotherhamunofficial.co.uk/famous/bailey.htm
http://www.150th.com/rivers/bailey.htm
http://www.nato.int/sfor/engineers/o...r/t990930g.htm
http://www.mabey.co.uk/johnson/
http://www.baileybridge.com/

I was amazed to discover not just how many of the old bridges survive, but also that there are still companies which will supply new ones.

[sapper]

Thanks for that Angie. The real success of the Bailey bridge was not just its complete simplicity, but the speed that one could be put in place. I would like to write a history of the Assault bridges I have been involved with, from Pegasus Bridge on the Orne river, right through to the German border, we built a real beauty at Weert in Holland. though I see it has now gone.

But I do see an enormouse scope for a description of my personal involvement with the Assault Bridging. Baileys and all.
Sapper

[Gerry Chester]

Hi Sapper,

Having seen your chaps about their work, I can unequivocally state theirs was consistently the most dangerous job undertaken during the war. I well remember waiting, on a pitch-black night, while a Bailey Bridge was speedily constructed to allow our tanks to move forward. The enemy, knowing something was going on, laid down sporadic mortar fire against which, unlike the tank crews, the sappers had absolutely no protection.

Often seen are polls on what/who played the most important role during the war - too often lumping ground operations with those in the air and at sea. As to the first mentioned, the Royal Engineers certainly has my vote - remember the other vital tasks they performed!

Sincerely, Gerry

[plant-pilot]

Although they are not called Bailey Bridges any more, here's a picture of an LSB built over the Hammar Canal in April 2003 in Iraq. Besides the colour of the panels I don't think Sapper would notice too much of a difference between the two.

In the foreground you can see the 'Amphibious Bridge' we put in while a field troop of 64 Sqn built the LSB. I know which I'd prefer to put in.
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[sapper]

PLant-Pilot. Thanks for that and to Gerry for his description of bridging under fire. Now the picture you put up, is about as perfect a picture of a Bailey as you could get. But if you think about it. The Bailey was so good that it would be difficult to improve on the original design.

Gerry, you talked about bridging under direct enemy fire, One of the worst experiences we had in all the assaults we took part in, was on the Escaut Canal at Petite Brogel, the sprint was on to get to Arnhem, and as soon as the Canvas Assault boats arrived we had to go,,for it was deadly urgent, That was an assault crossing that made Dantes Inferno look like a birthday party.

1am in the morning of a pitch black night, against a determined SS rearguard armed with damn near everything. To make matters worse, the Canal had steep concrete sides that we had to drag the heavy canavs boats up, before we could get them in the water. met with withering fire from explosive "cannon" shells that rattled the concrete sides. mortars and a Mc gun firing down the canal. A truly terrible night that will remain with me for the rest of my life, left some good friends behind there.
Sapper

[sappernz]

As a former Sapper in The Royal New Zealand Engineers I can only agree with everything Sapper has said. ( by the way in NZ whatever your rank, General to Sapper, you still proudly identify as a Sapper.).
The Bailey Bridge is a masterpiece of design and although I never saw combat I was involved in several exercises building them. There are still places in NZ where a Bailey was erected ( sappers are always proud of their erections ) fifty years ago as a " temporary " bridge and are still serving. I do not believe the design could be improved upon. They have withstood the test of time and allowed many battles to be won by their robust reliability.
I have found in my many readings that sometimes they are confused with an MGB,( medium girder bridge ) which is a different subject alltogether. Without being biased as a Sapper I would say the Bailey Bridge is one of the unsung heroes of World War Two along with the Engineers who built them.