CROSSING A BAILEY BRIDGE AT TOUNGOO ON THE ROAD TO RANGOON [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: CROSSING A BAILEY BRIDGE AT TOUNGOO ON THE ROAD TO RANGOON [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: JFU 217
  • Other titles: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Motor transport of IV Corps crosses a Bailey bridge near Toungoo (Taungoo) during the Allied drive on Rangoon, Burma.
  • Description: An Ordnance QF 40mm (Bofors) gun on guard against enemy air attack. Views of the blown bridge. Motor transport (lorries and jeeps) cross the replacement Bailey bridge.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945-04-26
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) SEAC Film Unit (Production company) Higgins, K G (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, IV Corps (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Toungoo, Burma (geography) Rangoon Road 1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event) Burma 1942-1945 (theme) British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 90 ft; Running time: 1 min
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: The Bailey bridge originated as model built by a British civil servant, Donald Bailey. Officially adopted by the Royal Engineers in 1943, the construction of these bridges quickly became a staple of their trade. The use of prefabricated sections allowed bridges to be built quickly, with minimal use of heavy equipment, giving a resulting structure strong enough to carry a tank. In Sicily and Italy, Allied engineers built over 3000 such bridges with a total length of over 55 miles, while in Burma a bridge over the River Chindwin set a record for the length of a single Bailey bridge at 1,154 feet (343 metres). Constructed from pre-assembled sections floated down the river, it was put together in just 28 hours. The construction of this bridge can be seen in the film referenced below. See related items.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    JFU 217

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    JFU 175 (5TH INDIAN DIVISION'S ENTRY TO YAMETHIN [Allocated Title]) JFU 211 (RIVER AND RAIN DELAYS IV CORPS' RANGOON DRIVE [Allocated Title])
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