BAILEY BRIDGE ERECTED

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26262, 6 November 1950, Page 6

BAILEY BRIDGE ERECTED

QUICK ASSEMBLY AT KERR’S REACH

An 80-feet Bailey bridge capable of carrying a weight of 12 tons was built across the Avoti river at Kerr's Reach yesterday by the sth Assault Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Field Engineers.

The building of the bridge was commenced at 9 a.m., and the first motorcar was driven across at 2.30 p.m. The parts were assembled on rollers and launched on the cantilever principle. Because of the shortage of building members of the squadron assistance was called on from the onlookers, who cheerfully volunteered to help with the heavy work of pushing the pieces into place. The Engineers’ unit consisted of officers with long war experience overseas. n.c.o.'s too young for active service in the last war. and 80 youths who, though not compelled to do such work under the act, volunteered. 'This showed a fine spirit of co-opera-tion by lads who are no longer looked on as trainees but as full-fledged engineers." said Major R. W. Morris, M.C., who was in charge of the unit. He served overseas in the Middle

Major Morris said the building of the bridge' was sponsored by the Christchurch City Council and Christchurch Drainage Board to give access to land at Kerr's Reach, and the material was hired from the Army, while the regular forces of the Army helped bv delivering material and supplying additional personnel. The lessons learned in campaigns overseas were put to use. and the whole thing was made as near as possible to an operational exercise.

When the last bolt was tightened « ribbon was stretched from rail to rail and broken when Captain J. Calloway drove a car through it. Following was a big Army truck carrying personnel of the Engineers' unit which had completed the job.