The Royal Engineers Journal

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Royal Engineers Journal THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL INSTITUTION OF RE OFFICE COPY I DO NOT REMOVE APRIL 1992 VOL 106 No 1 Guidelines for Authors The Editor is always glad to consider articles for .TXT added, are most welcome. File on an publication in the Journal. Guidelines for prospective IBM compatible 3.50 disc. Mrs Juliet Scanlan authors are: would be pleased to assist with queries - ring Subject. Articles should have some military Chatham Mil 2299 or (0634) 842669. engineering connection but this can be fairly Photographs should be black and white. Coloured tenuous, specially if an article is well written photographs rarely reproduce well unless they are and interesting. excellent quality with sharp definition and no red Length. Normally, chance ol publication is in colouring. Slides are not acceptable at present. inverse proportion to length. More than 4500 words Line Drawings, if possible should be drawn in (five pages of text) tends to lose most of our readers. proportion with the page size (145mm x 205mm). Blockbusters can sometimes be serialised. Rewards can be generous. The Publications Clearance. Opinions are an author's own. The Committee has about £250 in prize money to allot wise man clears an article with his boss on any for each issue plus valuable annual prizes. All policy matters. Security clearance must be authors receive £5 to help cover costs. obtained locally. Pseudonyms may be used. They will not be revealed Copy. Ideally the text should be double space typed by the Editor under any circumstances. and include the author's pen picture, photo and captions for artwork. Contributions should reach the Editor by: Computers. Articles typed as straight text only, Early June for the August 1992 issue no indents or tabulation, using text wrap ie do Early October for the December 1992 issue not use enter/return key at end of each line and Early Februaryforthe April 1993 issue saved to disc as an ASCII file (check your word processing package manual for details on Submissions before the deadline will be how to do this) and with the file extension particularly welcome. ( v ( UN -, 17©F~I ©B~l 2URAQH 1 5. ,. g -..... 1 1-,,.'.,-,,.",>,i.51"15".".-,5.".',,' : : :: * F_ I -~~:..;-. ..... .1- 1.11 -1- .1--. J Detecting Set. Metal L8A1. NSN Z5/6665-99-282-4063 Telephone 081 567 0702 - Facsimile 081 79 2158 THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS (Established 1875, Incorporatedby Royal Charter, 1923) Patron - HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN Chief Royal Engineer General Sir George Cooper GCB MC DL COUNCIL President Major General J A M Evans CB MA FBIM ... 1990 Vice Presidents Major General J A J P Barr CBE ... 1991 Colonel A F George TD MA LLM BSc ... 1990 Members Elected Ex Officio Colonel J B Bennett BSc CEng Eurlng Deputy EinC Brigadier E H Barker CBE ADC MA FBIM MICE FIPlantE 1989 Col PB7 Colonel P J Williams BSc(Eng) FBIM Lieut Colonel J P Marsh BSc(Eng) CEng MICE 1989 Comdt RSME Brigadier P J Russell-Jones OBE BSc(Eng) Lieut Colonel B W Cox 1989 DG Mil Svy Major General R Wood MA MSc Lieut Colonel A S Craig BSc(Eng) 1989 FRICS FBIM Brigadier M J F Stephens MA CEng MICE 1990 Regt Col Colonel M R Cooper BA Colonel W H T Spaight BSc(Eng) CEng Eurlng Comd 11 Engr Gp Brigadier R Macdonald MBE BSc(Eng) MICE MIHT FBIM 1990 D Engr Svcs Brigadier R A Bradbury BSc(Eng) Lieut Colonel J E Kitching BA FBIM 1990 CEng FICE Colonel R S Eyre TD BSc(Eng) DMS MICE MIHT 1991 DPCS Brigadier M A Browne Lieut Colonel W J H Clark BSc(Eng) AMICE 1991 Major A D Macklin MA(H) 1991 Corresponding Members Brigadier W 1 C Dobbie BSc(Eng), Comd Engr BAOR Colonel J G H Robertson, BLO Fort Leonard Wood, USA Lieut Colonel R J F Owen OBE, BLO Pionierschule, Munich Major R C F Braybrook, BLO Engineer School, Angers Major A H Bayliss MA MICE CEng, Exchange Appointment, Australian SME Captain A W Phillips BA, Exchange Appointment, Canadian SME Secretary: Lieut Colonel F R Beringer BA ... 1990 Treasurer:Lieut Colonel A J Hicks ... 1989 PUBLICATIONS AND LIBRARY COMMITTEE Chairman: Brigadier R A Bradbury BSc(Eng) CENG FICE 1991 Vice-Chairman: Colonel M R Cooper BA 1988 Members: Brigadier J R E Hamilton-Baillie MC MA(H) CEng MICE 1988 Colonel I S Mercer CBE 1988 Colonel B A McCandlish OBE 1991 Lieut Colonel J N Cormack MBE MC BA MBIM 1988 Lieut Colonel R J H Cooke 1990 Lieut Colonel C A Mildinhall 1991 Major A Keeley BSc 1991 Coopted Member: Colonel G W A Napier MA 1990 Editor RE Journal:Lieut Colonel F R Beringer BA Secretary: Mrs J D Scanlan All correspondence in connection with editorial matters should be addressedto the Secretary of the Institution of Royal Engineers, Raielin Building, Brompton Barracks,Chatham, Kent, ME4 4UG The Institution of Royal Engineers is Registered as a Charity Number 249882 ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM AND LIBRARY Trustees: The Council RE MUSEUM TRUSTEES STEERING COMMITTEE Chairman: Major General J A M Evans CB MA FBIM Members: Major General J A J P Barr CBE Major General H E M L Garrett CBE MA Brigadier P J Russell-Jones OBE BSc(Eng) Colonel Sir Idris Pearce CBE TD DL Colonel J E Kitching BA FBIM lan Robertson Esq MA FMA DirectorRE Museum: Colonel G W A Napier MA Regimental Colonel: Colonel M R Cooper BA Corps Treasurer: Lieut Colonel A J Hicks TRUSTEES RE MUSEUM FOUNDATION Chief Royal Engineer: General Sir George Cooper GCB MC DL Chairman: Colonel Sir Idris Pearce CBE TD DL Members: Colonel P E Williams TD DL Captain J H Fitzmaurice Lieut Colonel Sir William Francis CBE FEng FICE Colonel W T Dennison CBE Colonel M R Cooper BA Major General W N J Withall CB A F Budge Esq OBE Ex Officio: Major General J A J P Barr CBE Major General J A M Evans CB MA FBIM RE MUSEUM STAFF Director: Colonel G W A Napier MA Curator: Dr J Rhodes Registrar: P J Dutton Esq MA Assistant Curators: Mrs B J Williams S R Jones Esq BA Administrative Officer: Miss N J Underwood Telephone: Chatham Mil (0634) 844555 Ext 2312 or Medway (0634) 406397 RE CORPS LIBRARY Librarianand Editor Sapper: Major J T Hancock Assistant Librarian: Mrs M Magnuson Telephone: Chatham Mil (0634) 844555 Ext 2416 ISSN 0035-8878 THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL Published in April, August and December by the Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4UG Telephone Medway (0634) 842669 or Chatham Military (0634) 844555 Ext 2299 Printed by Staples PrintersRochester Limited, Neptune Close, Medway City Estate, Frindshury,Rochester, Kent, ME2 4LT Volume 106 APRIL 1992 No 1 Contents 1 EDITORIAL 4 2 THE NEW M3 AMPHIBIAN UK USER TRIALS BY 28 AMPHIBIOUS ENGINEER REGIMENT Lieut Colonel T H E Foulkes 5 3 THE FATE OF THE 18TH DIVISION ROYAL ENGINEERS, Professor P H G Allen 12 4 1ST QUEEN'S PRINTER A SHARPSHOOTER, reprint from Sunday supplement to the Times Colonist, BC 19 5 ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE - A SAPPER'S STORY OF AN EVENT IN FEBRUARY 1942, Major T J Phelps MBE 21 6 DISASTER AT THE SITTANG BRIDGE - BURMA 1942, Major E R B Hudson TD 26 7 SAPPERS AT THE BATTLE OF KYAUKSE, Major General I H Lyall Grant MC 34 8 JOURNAL AWARDS, December 1991 and Annual Awards for 1991 38 9 A WALK WITH HEROES, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum 1850-1916 39 10 DELAYING THE JAPANESE ADVANCE IN BURMA 1942, Sir Eric Yarrow MBE DL 42 11 ADW - NOT JUST ANOTIIER MINE, Lieut Colonel A F M Douglas 46 12 TIIE SAPPERS' BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION JOB? Sapper C Meacher 50 13 MAJOR HERBERT MUSGRAVE DSO - TIE MAD MAJOR? Wing Commander P J Dye 58 14 IN AT THE DEEP END, Lieutenant C D Fergus 62 15 A UNIQUE SAPPER REMEMBRANCE, Colonel J V P Braganza 64 16 AN EMERGENCY, Lieutenant Colonel B R White MBE TD 66 17 OPERATION GRANBY, PREPARATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR WAR, Correction 69 18 EL ALAMEIN, Colonel J H Frankau MC 70 19 RE MUSEUM - SOME RECENT ACQUISITIONS, Phillip Dutton Esq 73 20 THE WADI-EL-KUF BRIDGES, CYRENAICA 1948-49, Major R E Ward 74 21 MEMOIRS: Lieut Colonel R A Bevan 79 Colonel T H Egan MBE 80 Colonel George More MC* 80 Lieut Colonel Sir Desmond Fitzmaurice CIE 83 Brigadier Sir Mark Henniker Bt CBE DSO MC DL 83 Colonel K N Wylie DSO MBE 85 Major General Henry Hutson CB DSO OBE MC 86 Lieut Colonel (QM) R J Grocott 87 Colonel Stephen Hollway OBE MC TD DL 88 22 MEMOIRS IN BRIEF 89 23 CORRESPONDENCE 89 24 REVIEWS 91 Authors alone are responsible for the statements made and the opinions expressed in their papers. 4400 Editorial As Secretary of the Institution I frequently War. There is a thread running through them. receive the news of the deaths of retired officers Professor Allen, in his moving article on The of the Corps. As I reflect on their names I am Fate of the 18th Division RE, mentions small struck by the rich diversity of the talents of parties escaping from Singapore. We find Major members of the Corps - talents often forgotten Phelps in another article reminiscing on his until we begin to prepare memoirs. It can be experiences as a sapper escaping in one of those invidious to name names but since I had been parties. Further North, Major Hudson describes closely involved with Lieutenant Colonel vividly his experiences at the bridge at Sittang Bob Grocott and Major Ken Bryan, I was and gives his opinion on the events surrounding particularly saddened by their deaths.
Recommended publications
  • California Fair List 2018
    BERNARD QUARITCH LTD. PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER, FEBRUARY 9 FEBRUARY CENTER, CONVENTION PASADENA - 11, 2018, BOOTH 308 2018,BOOTH 11, CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONALCALIFORNIA ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR st 51 BERNARD QUARITCH LTD 40 SOUTH AUDLEY ST, LONDON W1K 2PR Tel: +44 (0)20-7297 4888 Fax: +44 (0)20-7297 4866 e-mail: [email protected] web site: www.quaritch.com Bankers: Barclays Bank plc, Level 27, 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP Sort code: 20-65-90 Acct no: 10511722 Swift code: BARC GB22 Sterling account: IBAN: GB62 BARC 206590 10511722 Euro account: IBAN: GB91 BARC 206590 45447011 U.S. Dollar account: IBAN: GB10 BARC 206590 63992444 VAT number: GB 840 1358 54 Mastercard, Visa, and American Express accepted Recent Catalogues: 1436 Travel, Natural History & Scientific Exploration 1435 Music 1434 Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts 1433 English Books & Manuscripts 1432 Continental Books Recent Lists: 2018/1 English Books & Manuscripts 2017/14 Politics, Statecraft, Mirrors of Princes 2017/13 Photography – Autumn Miscellany 2017/12 Economics 2017/11 Revolution and Propaganda Cover image and vignette opposite from item 23. © Bernard Quaritch 2018 WINE AND LOVE – WITH TRANSLATIONS BY COWLEY 1// ANACREON done into English out of the original Greek … Oxford, Printed by L. Lichfield … for Anthony Stephens … 1683. 8vo., pp. [20], 72, 79-114; a very good copy in contemporary mottled calf, front joint cracked. $945 First edition. The ‘Anacreontea’, a collection of 60 Greek poems on wine, beauty and erotic love, though long attributed to Anacreon was actually by numerous anonymous imitators. The present collection of fifty-two poems is similarly anonymous and collaborative, and contains translations (or imitations) attributed to Oldham, Cowley, Thomas Wood and Francis Wallis.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mathematical Gazette Index for 1894 to 1908
    The Mathematical Gazette Index for 1894 to 1908 AUTHOR TITLE PAGE Issue Category C.W.Adams Stability of cube floating in liquid p. 388 Dec 1908 MNote 285 V.Ramaswami Aiyar Extension of Euclid I.47 to n-sided regular polygons p. 109 June 1897 MNote 41 V.Ramaswami Aiyar On a fundamental theorem in inversion p. 88 Oct 1904 MNote 153 V.Ramaswami Aiyar On a fundamental theorem in inversion p. 275 Jan 1906 MNote 183 V.Ramaswami Aiyar Note on a point in the demonstration of the binomial theorem p. 276 Jan 1906 MNote 185 V.Ramaswami Aiyar Note on the power inequality p. 321 May 1906 MNote 192 V.Ramaswami Aiyar On the exponential inequalities and the exponential function p. 8 Jan 1907 Article V.Ramaswami Aiyar The A, B, C of the higher analysis p. 79 May 1907 Article V.Ramaswami Aiyar On Stolz and Gmeiner’s proof of the sine and cosine series p. 282 June 1908 MNote 259 V.Ramaswami Aiyar A geometrical proof of Feuerbach’s theorem p. 310 July 1908 MNote 264 A.O.Allen On the adjustment of Kater’s pendulum p. 307 May 1906 Article A.O.Allen Notes on the theory of the reversible pendulum p. 394 Dec 1906 Article Anonymous Proof of a well-known theorem in geometry p. 64 Oct 1896 MNote 30 Anonymous Notes connected with the analytical geometry of the straight line p. 158 Feb 1898 MNote 49 Anonymous Method of reducing central conics p. 225 Dec 1902 MNote 110B (note) Anonymous On a fundamental theorem in inversion p.
    [Show full text]
  • Language and Cultural Barriers Pertaining to the Polish Army’S 1St Armoured Division in Normandy, August 1944
    POLES APART: Language and Cultural Barriers Pertaining to the Polish Army’s 1st Armoured Division in Normandy, August 1944. by Robert Schuman Williams A thesis submitted to the Graduate Program in History in conformity with the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada (May, 2017) Copyright ©Robert Schuman Williams, 2017 Abstract This thesis is a study of the effects language and culture on military operations using the experience of the 1st Polish Armoured Division under command of the II Canadian Corps in North Western Europe in August 1944. The challenges in multinational operations have been, and remain, understanding both allies and the environment in which one is going to be conducting operations. Rapid mutually intelligible communication is a key factor to mission success, whether during high tempo operations or while conducting deliberate planning and administrative work with non-English speaking allies. This dissertation begins with background material on the cultural and linguistic effects on multi- national military operations, examining literature on the diaspora Polish communities and what has been said about the Polish and Canadian armies’ performances in North-West Europe in August 1944. This is followed by a description of the Pigeau-McCann common intent factors that will be used as a framework to highlight what could be done to overcome the effects of language and culture on the employment of military units and formations. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of culture on leadership in both interpersonal and staff interactions, using the Pigeau- McCann Balanced Command Envelope (BCE) as a subsidiary model to help describe the effect that two commanders, Maczek and Simonds, had on the achievement of common intent.
    [Show full text]
  • 4Th January 1862 BROSELEY. FUNERAL of GEORGE PRITCHARD, ESQ. HIGH SHERIFF. the Funeral of Mr. Pritchard Took Place on Tuesday La
    4th January 1862 BROSELEY. FUNERAL OF GEORGE PRITCHARD, ESQ. HIGH SHERIFF. The funeral of Mr. Pritchard took place on Tuesday last, attended by those marks of respect which showed how unmistakeably his loss was felt by his neighbours, and by the surrounding gently. The hundreds of persons official, and private—who volunteered, in sorrow, their presence as a mark of respect at the last sad rites of his funeral—the clamed shutters and muffled peals of the bells in the town and village churches surrounding his residence--attest earnestly, though simply, the public and private feelings those who knew and appreciated Mr. George Pritchard. A feeling of deep sorrow and regret at the loss of this amiable and estimable man pervades the whole district, and it will be long before the memory of his character and good deeds will be effaced from the winds of any whose privilege it has been to come within the influence of his warm-hearted and bountiful benevolence. We believe we do not exaggerate when we state that the late Mr. Pritchard devoted nearly the whole of his very large income to charitable purposes. The Clergy of the neighbourhood, the Mayors, Town Clerks, Aldermen, and Town Councillors of Wenlock and Bridgnorth, met at the Town-hall, and proceeded in a body to the residence of the deceased, accompanied by the members of the Board of Guardians, the members of the Broseley Provident Society, and the gentry and tradespeople of the neighbourhood. As the funeral cortège left the house, these joined in, and the procession, in the following order, proceeded to the church:- The ceremony took place at twelve o’clock precisely.
    [Show full text]
  • Lion Meetournew International President
    AUTUMN 2018 ISLES ISLES BRITISH BRITISH − − 105 105 DISTRICT DISTRICT TIPLE TIPLE MUL MUL TIONAL TIONAL INTERNA INTERNA ON CLUBS CLUBS LIONS LIONS OF OF MAGAZINE MAGAZINE MEETOUR NEW THE THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, GUDRUN YNGVADOTTIR SEE PAGE 7 LI SEVERN DEAN LIONS BRACKNELL FOREST RAISE £1,500 FOR THE LIONS CLUB ARE MEASLES VACCINATION THE PRIDE OF APPEAL BRACKNELL! SEE PAGE 41 SEE PAGE 46 Lions Clubs International WE SERVE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Reaching for new horizons Hello, Lions! Iamincredibly honoured to be beginning this year as your International President. My theme is We Serve, and Iamexcited about what we can achievetogetherthroughservice. We have alot to do,and I’m ready to help youtakeafew steps out of your comfort zone. Being aLion isn’tabout doing the same thing year after year in the name of tradition. Being aLion means looking for how youcan best be of service. Sometimes, that requires creativeproblem solving. If you’re not sure what that means or how to do it, I’m going to help you. “Being daring is part of our Lion DNA Here are afew things Iwant us to focus on this year: ” Membership.It’soneveryone’smind. How can we not only recruit new members, but keep our current members and build leaders who can takeour work into this next century of service? One waywecan do this is through balanced membership,including both genders and people from all walks of life, who can bringtheir life experiences to bear on the service work we do. Friendship.Comradery has alwaysbeen apart of the experience of being aLion.
    [Show full text]
  • 2010 National Easter Rallies 1926 Bugatti Type 37
    NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE No. 304 June July2010 $5.95 2010 NATIONAL EASTER RALLIES BEHIND THE WHEEL 1926 BUGATTI TYPE 37 Historic Lea-Francis restored 9 418979 000012 Rally Action Across New Zealand A B C D The photographs above are supplied by Warrick Orr. PHOTOGRAPHS REQUIRED The photos are from albums of the Orr family of Johnsonville and are dated between 1900-1918. Submissions of suitable prints and If any readers can date the vehicles and identify the makes the Orr family would be interested. information (where available) are always A: Alex Orr possibly on a beach in the Wellington area. Alexander was a theatrical manager, he welcome. drowned in Christchurch’s River Avon Feb, 1911. Please send original photographs of historical interest with any available B: Mary Orr and canine friend taken at Martinborough. information to: C: Janet (nee Orr) and Fred Twiss with their sons Brian and Ken in 1909. Not sure where this is Beaded Wheels, taken but could be Rarotonga (coconut palms in the background and was posted from the Cook PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Islands.) Laserprints/photocopies are not suitable. D: Family group. Photos will be returned as soon as practicable. management committee All administration matters should be addressed to PRESIDENT SECRETARY/ TREASURER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE the NATIONAL OFFICE in the first instances. John Coomber Michael Lavender Bob Ballantyne THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND (INC.) 03 348 0062 [email protected] 03 325 5704 [email protected] 09 444 4066 [email protected]
    [Show full text]