Other titles:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Film showing the construction of the floating Bailey bridge on the River Chindwin at Kalewa, Burma.
Description: Tightening nuts on a Bailey section. Various shots of sections fixed together. Launching a 100 ft section. Pan over the site. View from the water with a variety of activity. Locals boats. Pontoon Bailey rafts prepared. Hillside with apparently ruined pagoda overlooking the site. Indian Engineers operating a 'Bangalore pile driver', to prepare a landing bay, with close-ups of its operation. Aerial views of the site, some highly illustrative. Laying decking. Launching a section. Indian Engineers paddling a pontoon section. Small motor boat. Hauling in a floating section.Two sections coming together. Major-General Charles Fowkes, commander 11th East African Division, cuts a tape to open the bridge. Fowkes and Colonel F Seymour Williams, the chief engineer, celebrate with a tin of beer and a pipe. Indian Engineers hauling a Bailey section off a lorry. Sikh engineers carrying girder. Bolting sections together. Close-up Colonel Williams. Views of the partially complete bridge. Views from the water. Views from a jeep following behind that of Fowkes and Williams as they drive across the bridge.
Alternative Title:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor)
SEAC Film Unit (Production company)
Taylor, A (Captain) (Production individual)
Govan, Harold WilliamBritish Army sergeant-cameraman with South East Asia Command Film Unit (British) and No.9 Army Film & Photographic Unit, formerly Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), service number 7662913, BEM in London Gazette 37576 published 21 May 1946, pg 2. (Production individual)
Beech, P M (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Fowkes, Charles Christopher (person)
British Army, 11th East African Division (regiment/service)
Indian Army, Indian Engineers (regiment/service)
Keywords: Chindwin (River), Burma (geography)
Kalewa, Burma (geography)
Chindwin Crossing 1944-1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event)
