Motor transport of IV Corps crosses a Bailey bridge near Toungoo (Taungoo) during the Allied drive on Rangoon, Burma.

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.

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.