Bailey Bridge across the Chehalis River

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Jon Skagfeld

7 days to throw a Bailey across a river???

RCE Sappers must be spinning in their graves!!!!

As a Union Electrician I'm somewhat loathe to make the following pun:

They must have been Union workers!

All kidding aside, the speed at which a well trained company could throw a bridge over a river was a constant source of amazement to non-Engineer officers. There is a not-too-well known story from WWII, outside of Engineers that is, of an ass-chewing that a Lieutenant was about to receive from an Armoured Corps Major. The Major had driven to a forward area in the late afternoon to check on the progress of two bridges that were to be built so his tanks could press forward. The construction was to begin mid-morning. The Major was angered to see the Engineers sitting down to chow at about 1700hrs.
The conversation went something like this:

Major: "The Armour is ready to move up this road and I find you resting and setting up for chow. I suggest you move out and get to it!"

Eng.: "Major, Sir, simmer down and have some chow. We have some fine liberated wine and some good de-boned pork today."

Major: "What is your plan!"

Eng.: "Well, the bridges are very simple. Short span. Steep banks. Class 40 loading."

Major: "How long will it take!?"

Eng.: "Less than 4 hours with two company's building simultaneously and a third moving supplies up."

Major: "Anything you need from Battalion?!?"

Eng.: "No, not presently anyway."

Major: "Well, when can you begin?!?

Eng.: "They're all done."

Major: "All done! How can that be! With you sitting here!?!"

Eng.: "Well Major, the only way you got this far forward was over those two bridges. They're about three kilometers back from where you came from. We built them hours ago."


The speed of the Engineers also impressed others. There is a famous Willy and Joe cartoon showing two dog-faced Engineers hunkering under a wooden trestle bridge, one on a walkie-talkie, while German trucks drive across overhead. The caption reads:

Yessir! Ol' B Comp'ny set another bridging buildin' record. There's a Kraut regiment retreating over it!