Article The Building Of Neinberg Bridge/club Bridge

ENG019.webp
ENG020.webp
 
There we are. All the typed notes are posted. You can head off down to the river and build your own full size version. I expect there is enough in that lot to build a scale model in the garage, but you could probably ignore the calculations for wind speed.force in that case
 
All this stuff is safely in the RE museum now

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  • Title
    Nienburg and Nienstadt Bridge Repair
  • Reference
    23/742
  • Date
    1945
  • Scope and Content
    A series of photographs, mostly concerning the repair of the Nienburg Bridge over the River Wesel in Germany, that was destroyed during the German retreat in 1945. There are also three photographs of the Nienburg or 'Farewell' Bridge, and two group photographs. One shows Lt Col R.R. Gillespie (second left) on the Nienburg bridge, with three other unnamed men. Gillespie was the CO of 629 Field Sqadron. The second group photograph is larger and shows four men seated and three standing outside a building. On the back is written 'To Lt Col RR Gillespie with the compliments of the Officers of 629 Fd Sqn RE. Germany June 1945'. Three photographs show the Farewell bridge, a stone arched bridge with Bailey panels added to the top. The largest is a side on view showing the repair work. The second shows the stone arches, and the third is of a plaque erected on the bridge, titled 'Farewell Bridge 629 Field Squadron Royal Engineers'. It lists their battles and the date October 1945. The remaining photographs show the bridge repair of Nienburg Bridge over the Wesel. Most are marked on the back, although some are not. The bridge was also known as 'Club Bridge' as it was the last major bridge on the 'Club Route' axis of 30 Corps. A series of 20 photographs show various parts of the bridge under construction. There is one aerial photograph taken from the south, with Gillespie's notes on the back. It also shows a pontoon bridge in front, known as 'Anniversary Bridge'. There is a larger photograph, also annotated by Gillespie, showing one of the piers. There is a photograph of the previous bridge, before it was destroyed. Lastly, there are three photographs showing the ice on the Weser and by the bridge, which caused problems for the build.
  • Exent
    32 photographs
  • Physical description
    A series of black and white photographs in different sizes. Some have scalloped edges. There is one aerial photograph. Most have pencil notes on the back recording the locations.
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser
 
  • Title
    'Engineer Reports'
  • Reference
    PA/30/1/1
  • Date
    28th November 1945
  • Creator
    30 Corps Troops RE
  • Scope and Content
    A document of Engineer reports on the Nienburg bridge, including the plan, a survey, particulars of RSJs, weights of spans, calculations, timber specification and stores. They are signed by Lt Col Gillespie. The report is introduced by a note asking for the report, information and photographs for the Nienburg bridge at the Verden bridge. Both are prefaced by a request to 11 Units for reports of unsual work done in the area in 1945.
  • Exent
    One document, 23 pages
  • Physical description
    A typewritten document on slightly larger than A4 wartime paper.
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser
 
  • Title
    'Nienburg Bridge Project No 7*'
  • Reference
    PA/30/1/2
  • Date
    Second World War
  • Creator
    30 Corps Troops RE
  • Scope and Content
    A document of Engineer reports on the Nienburg bridge, covering general notes, RSJs and spans, as well as calculations. It follows on or is linked to PA/30/1/1, Engineer Reports on the same bridge by Lt Col Gillespie.
  • Exent
    One document, 5 pages
  • Physical description
    A typewritten document on slightly larger than A4 wartime paper.
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser
 
  • Title
    Ice on the Weser
  • Reference
    PA/30/1/3
  • Date
    Second World War
  • Creator
    R. R. Gillespie, Lt Col.
  • Scope and Content
    A two page, handwritten document or diary, detailing the adverse weather on the Weser in 1946 and 1947. The 1946 entry is short: 'At the beginning of 1946 the Weser rose in flood, to a height hitherto unprecedented. It topped the capsills. No damage was done'. The 1947 entry is longer, and concerns the damage done to the bridge by ice, and the measures taken to free and repair the bridge. It begins: 'In Jan '47 the Weser froze. Air temperature at Nienburg went to -23C, a record for over 60 years. The river froze to an eventual thickness of 2 ft.'
  • Exent
    One document, 2 pages
  • Physical description
    A handwritten document on slightly larger than A4 thick paper.
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser
 
A fitting end to the whole story. With luck even in 100 years time the tale will endure.
 
Last edited:
Britische Truppen errichten am 14. April 1945 eine provisorische Brücke über die Weser miteiner Tragfähigkeit von 40 t. (Quelle: Imperial War Museum, London)
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