Hi, more Research going through my Great-grandfathers photos taken this time 'Near Zwolle'. I have used other images to located and line up a photograph of the IJssel Bridge in 1945 (the second time it was destroyed, this time by the Germans) I am attempting to locate a photograph which seems to be the construction of a pontoon bridge, around that location. I have found a spot right next to the IJssel bridge, which has similar features, a suitable spot for a ponton bridge, which a minimal area to cross (at low water level), and a good area for vehicles to move off the bank to the main road. Buildings seems to have modernised using google maps, but found a photo with has original buildings. IJsselbrug (Zwolle) - Wikipedia any opinions, or info on pontoon bridges over the IJssel would be appreciated. thanks, Owen
You wouldn’t happen to know which Unit built the Pontoon??……the photo you have above indicates it a “bailey pontoon bridge”……even if you new which Unit, Brigade, Division (and Country, British or Canadian) it was it could narrow the search??
I think you are right, and in fact this is the precurser of when eventually became a bailey bridge, The Maple Bridge, and after translation 'built by The 1st Canadian Army' used all the way up to 1947 until the IJsselbrug was rebulit. Recovering destruction Second World War. IJsselbrug Zwolle. Sign with announcement emergency bridge Maple leaf bridge built by the Canadian army Date: 2 January 1946 Location: Overijssel, Zwolle Keywords: bridges, Second World War, destruction, reconstruction Stock Photo - Alamy edit* also featured on the Wiki page is a video of the reopening of the IJsselbrug in 1947 which shows the Maple bridge.
I’m looking thru the War Diaries of “Commander Permanent Bridges - RCE” now, to see if I can spot anything in regards to construction of either a Bailey Pontoon Bridge or a “permanent” Maple Leaf Bridge. I’ll post up if I find anything…..its a tough slog, their is no “search engine” so you half to go “page by page” to see if you can see anything
Found the information…..I had a feeling it was this unit, so I checked their history and their it was, they built both the bailey pontoon (a Class 40) and the Bridge itself. The bailey pontoon was being used at Zupten, And they disassembled it, moved it to Zwolle, built it first so they could move men and material and then started work on the bridge. The unit was the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers I have taken screen shots of the pages from their History, and will post them up here for you to see. Their are photo’s (not good ones though) and you can see the original bridge in the background, and the construction of the replacement. NOTE: If you’d like a copy of the History of the 2nd Battalion, RCE, you can also see this on line at this link: 2 Battalion Royal Canadian Engineers : Donated by Bill & Susan Wilson, Uploaded by Richard Laughton : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Personnel of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), cheering at the opening of the world’s longest Bailey bridge, which they helped to build, Zwolle, Netherlands, 3 August 1945. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/disco...aces-second-war/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=796& FYI, the 2nd Battalion, RCE was part of: G.H.Q. AND L. OF C. TROOPS: 1st Mechanical Equipment Company 1st Mechanical Equipment Park Company 2nd Battalion, R.C.E. 3rd Battalion, R.C.E. 1st Road Construction Company 2nd Road Construction Company 1st Drilling Company 2nd Drilling Company No. 1 Railway Operating Company No. 2 Railway Operating Company No. 1 Railway Workshop Company
Brilliant work! And very much Appreciated! thanks so much. It is really interesting being able to get a insight into the context of just one single photograph. I have attempted to get a rough location of the bridge from the photographs and footage of the reopening of the IJssel bridge.
