WW II

“…Bailey Bridging made an immense contribution towards ending World War II. As far as my own operations were concerned, with the Eighth Army in Italy and with the 21^st Army Group in North-West Europe, I could never have maintained the speed and tempo of forward movement without large supplies of Bailey Bridging.”

….Field Marshall Montgomery of Alamein

The Allied campaign in Italy during the Second World War is often described as “an Engineer’s War” because of the difficult terrain and the extensive obstacles created by the enemy.

On this date in 1943, an enemy patrol infiltrated behind a party of Sappers maintaining a river crossing near Colle d'Anchise in Italy. The section commander, A/Cpl M.H. Patriquin was awarded the Military Medal for putting their machine gun out of action and maintaining the crossing.

On this date in 1944, every Canadian field and park squadron and company in 1^st Canadian Army (some 20 units), used bridges, rafts, and storm boats to get the divisions of the 2^nd Canadian Corps across the Seine.

On this date in 1944, I Canadian Corps assaulted the Gothic Line. The 3^rd Field Company used three Sherman bulldozers for the first time to successfully build two crossings over the Metauro River. Bailey bridges followed.

On this date in 1944, the 2^nd and 3^rd Canadian Infantry Divisions, along with the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, and all associated Engineer units formed the II Canadian Corps as part of the 21^st Army Group.

On this date in 1943, RCE field companies landed in Sicily with assault troops of the 1^st and 2^nd Canadian Infantry Brigades. The six-week campaign was costly with 15 RCE officers and men killed and many more wounded. On a man for man basis, the RCE received more awards for bravery than any other arm.