In an exercise of May 1941, 553 Field Company Royal Engineers erected a heavy pontoon bridge across the River Stour at Grove Ferry during the hours of darkness, and then dismantled and removed it. This quaintly prefigured the Royal Engineers’ more extensive works of later that year. In July, work began on a bridge at Grove ferry to be a ‘three span bridge supported on piles, the central span being of obsolete large box girders and the end spans ... of RSJs’. It was estimated that the bridge would be complete by end of August. 11 Field Company Royal Engineers found the construction of this Class 40 bridge ‘very good training in heavy bridge and [?benching] with derrick etc’. It had been completed by the end of September, possibly on schedule. The bridge must have been very important to military movements in the area. In the event of an invasion, however it would doubtless have been removed, along with the ferry itself and ‘all boats in its neighbourhood’ destroyed ‘if liable to capture’.
Owner : Public
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

8 Royal Fusiliers 1940, 01/01/40, War Diary 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE15333.

8 Royal Fusiliers 1940, 01/01/40, War Diary 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940 (Unpublished document). Ske15333.

Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division, 01/01/41, War Diary Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15334.

Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division, 01/01/41, War Diary Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15334.