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Paul Welch Profile picture
Paul Welch
@PaulIWelch
Aug 8, 2020 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
The Small Box Girder (SBG) assault bridge was one of the devices carried by the AVREs of 79th Armoured Division in NW Europe. The bridge was developed in 1943 (see photo). It was 34 feet 6 inches long, could be used on a 30 foot gap and had a 40 ton capacity. 1/14 It used four sections of standard box girder equipment, two girders being attached together, then two of these sections joined at the front and rear, with bracing struts along the length. The girders were then decked. 2/14
Aug 5, 2020 • 16 tweets • 4 min read
In 1975 Sir Michael Wilford became the British Ambassador to Japan. On 6 June 1944 he was a Captain and Troop ldr in 82 Assault Sqn RE, Churchill AVREs. He was on this LCT on the way to Gold Beach, with a breaching team, to create an exit for following troops and vehicles. 1/16 On the LCT were 2 Sherman Crab flails (Westminster Dragoons) and 3 AVREs. First off would be Wilford’s AVRE 'Lough Corrib'. On parts of Gold soft clay had been found, and carpet devices developed to cover it….. 2/16
Jul 26, 2020 • 12 tweets • 4 min read
One of the more famous pictures from D-Day, looking east along 'Nan White' on Juno, showing the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade landing at about 1140. Some may be unaware that the picture also reveals evidence of a drama that took place 3 hours earlier, marked by the boxes. 1/12 1 Troop 80 Assault Sqn Churchill AVREs, with a 22nd Dragoon Sherman flail, were to clear an exit from the beach west of Bernieres. The plan was to flail to the 5 foot high seawall and place the SBG against it. A ditch beyond this would need to be filled with a fascine. 2/12
Jul 23, 2020 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
A remarkable picture taken on Sword beach as the first wave of 79th Armoured touch down at 0725 on D-Day. I don’t think this picture has been published before (my collection). It was taken by the Naval correspondent…1/7 @rgpoulussen @RobertGlenniePT of the Daily Mail, Lambton Burn, who was on LCT109 that touched down on Lane 5, and is looking west along Queen White from 109. The LCT in the murky distance is LCT111. An AVRE carrying a Small Box Girder (SBG) bridge, the bridge sticking up at an angle in front of the tank,2/7