| Accession Number | E03703 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Glass original whole plate negative |
| Maker |
Unknown Australian Official Photographer |
| Place made | France: Picardie, Somme, Somme Canal |
| Date made | 30 September 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Two parallel bridges built by Australian Engineers across the Somme Canal near Peronne, during ...
Description
Two parallel bridges built by Australian Engineers across the Somme Canal near Peronne, during the Australian advance in September 1918. The near side bridge, with a span of 60 feet and built to take an axle load of 17 tons - all traffic except tanks - was known as a Class A Deck Bridge, and was opened for traffic on 12 September 1918. The far side bridge, of which only the iron trestles can be seen, was constructed of rolled steel joists and material from captured German dumps, and was made available to all traffic except tanks, on 22 September 1918. The debris of an original British bridge (known as a 90 foot Hopkins Bristol Bridge), destroyed by the English in their withdrawal in March 1918, can be seen in the foreground.