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THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL Vol. LXXI MARCH 1957 No. CONTENTS Nuclear Power Engineering-1957 . Lieut.-Colonel J. E. L. Carter 1 The History and Development of the Bucket Excavator . Captain P. A. Camp 22 Water Divining as an Aid to Engineering . Colonel H. Grattan 33 The Erection of Buildings in East Africa to Accommodate a Combined Army and R.A.F. Wireless Project . Major E. A. Shand 43 The Suez Canal . Lieut.-Colonel E. W. C. Sandes 55 The R.E. Headquarters Mess . Colonel J. M. Lambert 59 Red Patch . The Late Colonel A. C. Mitchel 72 Presentation of a Pair of Candelabra to the Officers of the Royal New Zealand Engineers by the Officers of the Royal Engineers . 82 Correspondence, Memoirs, Books Reviews, Technical Notes . 8 PROMOTION AND STAFF COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS The Metropolitan College provides SPECIALISED POSTAL COACHING for ALL Subjects for the Staff College Entrance and for R.E. Candidates for Promotion (written papers). Adequate Examination Practice - Complete Model Answers to all Tests-Expert Guidance by Experienced Army Tutors-Authoritative Study Notes-All Tuition Conducted through the medium of the Post - Air Mall to Officers Overseas - Guarantee of Coaching until Successful - Moderate Fees Payable by Instalments. A copy of the latest edition of the College Army Prospectus will be sent free on request to the Secretary (M.12) ST. ALBANS ADVERTISEMENTS - f I -I .,, i'.'%,^'111 ,11 1111l 1;'l, ~-e " ' liiI , 11t ,'ourtPhotoah b f the Archt BulldlN \ %WHQ)1' '11 Sir Lindsay Parkinson's now, ,, have one single World Headquarters. ..........."' Continual expansion calls for closer- and-closer-knit central planning. Hence the great new blocks of offices we have built for ourselves in Southwark. This year Sir Lindsay Parkinson operations are going forward in Australia, British Guiana, Canada, Cyprus, the Gold Coast and all over Britain. And, whether it be a ten-million-pound scheme or a single building, every detail of every contract can now be co-ordinated at the Southwark Headquarters. Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co. Ltd 6 Lambeth Road, St.George's Circus, London, S.E.1. and in Australia, British Guiana, Canada,Cyprus and India. ii ADVERTISEMENTS VIKING JOHNSON -Tra- FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS :: for plain ended pipes, 6° of flexi- bility on sizes up to 24 in. dia- meter. Fitted by unskilled labour. When laid, competitive in price with lead and yarn joints. I,· VICTAU LIC FLEXIBLE JOINTS for Service pipelines are ideal for emergency purposes. The stan- dard bolted joint can be fitted by unskilled labour in under two minutes per joint. THE VICTAULIC TOGGLE JOINT t without nuts and bolts, is easily fastened mechanically, in a few seconds. The War Office, India Stores Department and High Commissioner for Pakistan have standardized Victaulic Joints for mobiliza- tion work. Copy of our Victaulic Catalogue will be sent on request. I _ __--_-- THE VICTAULIC COMPANY LIMITED Manufacturers of Victaulic Joints and Viking Johnson Couplings Registered Trade Marks 'VICTAULIC ' and 'VIKING'. Brook House, Park Lane, W.I ADVERTISEMENTS iii NUCLEAR CIVIL CONSTRUCTORS TROLLOPE COILS LTD. AND HOLLAND AHANNEN AND CUBITTS LTD. Civil Engineering & Structural Contractors associated with Atomic Power Constructions, Ltd. (Richardsons Westgarth, Crompton Parkinson and International Combustion) FOR THE CONSTRUCTION of NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS iv ADVERTISEMENTS /01ITFOR TOUG ASS/GMi4MFNS WHEELED The tougher the job the more Onions' C AnR equipment rises to the occasion. Opera- < 0R*iH PERS tors prefer it for every kind of earth IN 9 SIZES moving project. The SCRAPERS are TINED robust, stable and enduring. CABLE CONTROL UNITS are smooth and R/Pf ~PRS light in operation, simple to adjust and IN 6 SIZES maintain. RIPPERS with 3 or 5 tines use all the power of matching tractors to y r *^ break every kind of hard ground. With .V e@eu' 9 ROOT CUTTER BLADES they clear IN 4 SIZES scrub and sever roots to 30 in. deep. With CULTIVATING KNIFE they ALSO SHEEPSFOOT ROLLERS AND break and crumble ground to 24 in. deep PNEUMATIC CONSOLIDATING ROLLERS without bringing up the top soil. Onions' Tractor Equipment is made to match all the leading makes of Tractor. | - *O^B-- both British and American. On most sites at home or abroad you will find Onions' equipment keeping pace with the best. Manufactured by ONIONS & SONS (LEVELLERS) LTD., BILSTON Distributed throughout the world by JACK OLDING & CO. LTD. ADVERTISEMENTS ADVERISEMNTS v CENTRAL HOSPITAL, KUMASI, ASHANTI, GOLD COAST. Constructed entirely in Reinforced Concrete GEE with Shell Solar Roofs WALKER & SLATER LTD 100 PARK LANE, LONDON, W.I UTTOXETER OLD ROAD, DERBY, and COYCHURCH ROAD, BRIDGEND, GLAM. vi ADVERTISEMENTS You should read this 7 re;nring c/e PROFESSIONAL ~G ENINEER Principal Activities AUTOMATION NUCLEAR PHYSICS CONTROL GEAR APPARATUS GAS TURBINES PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS GENERATING PLANT RADIO & ELECTRONICS GUIDED DEFENCE WEAPONS RECTIFIERS HEATING EQUIPMENT SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS If you are interested in Progressive INSTRUMENTATION STEAM TURBINES Practical Training co-ordinated MARINE APPLICATIONS SWITCHGEAR with Post Graduate Studies. MINING TRACTION EQUIPMENT MOTORS TRANSFORMERS NUCLEAR POWER WELDING EQUIPMENT "B z l nllljul l.11IIII- 1 I,, »» . ^.. i... ^ ^ ,_ ,, *^ " *^ ' " I^ ^ To obtain a copy write to:- THE MANAGER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, METROPOLITAN.VICKERS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LIMITED, TRAPFORD PARK. MANCHESTER. 17 Member of the AEI group of companies A/ASOS ADVERTISEMENTS vii PILE Preferred by con- structional engin- eers for their unchanging sup- remacy, Stent Pre- cast Concrete Piles have proved their PRESTRESSED PILES (illustrated above) qualities wherever offer advantages of smaller scantlings, greater used. lengths and easier handling. Stent Prestressed To the ever- Piles have already attained a high standard of popular Stent efficiency. Standard Rein- STANDARD REINFORCED PILES (illus- trated below) Stent H I Piles maintain their forced Piles and long proven popularity, they are reliable, Prestressed Piles economic and readily available. Stock sizes 12 x 12in. inlengths 15-40ft. 14 x 14in. in lengths 15-55 ft. All Piles are available for Immediate Delivery FULLERDETAILS ON REQUEST STENT-SYKES PRESTRESSED HOLLOW PI LES Easier to handle and cheaper to transportl These new type piles are longer than solid piles at the same weight, permitting a considerable increase in working load. Prestressed and sectional and incorporating four basic units, this important introduction ensures quick assembly to any required length according to ground conditions. STENT PRECAST CONCRETE LIMITED Sales Office: I Victoria Street, London, S.W.I. Tel. Abbey 2573 Head Office & Works: Dagenham Dock, Essex. Tel. Rainham (Essex) 780 - -- AAAAA- -- -A--AAAAAAAi HOPE'S WINDOWS ARE HOT-DIP GALVANIZED Send for List No. 294 entitled "The Dover Harbour Experiments" HENRY HOPE &SONS LTD Smethwick, Birmingham & 17 Berners St., London, FYV. I ,W W W- - - - v' - viii ADVERTISEMENTS BUCKLERSBURY HOUSE TO STAND ON 3,500 BORED PILES La whichTh ithe the Temple site onof E ? Mithras was found. This important Office Building | , - - in the City of London, 17 storeys high including the basement Fi floors, is supported on Cementa- tion Bored Piles. Approximately 3,500 were constructed well with- M in the contract time despite the lto redu fact that delays were unavoidably occasioned by the deliberation discovered on the site and other major difficulties inevitable on such a large site. The construction of a surround- j ing wall to retain the adjoining : Queen Victoria Street, Cannon Street and Bucklersbury was greatly facilitated by cluding the Mansion House and services such as the the use of our bored piles. Underground Railway made it necessary to reduce The close proximity of important buildings in- noise, vibration, etc.. to an absolute minimum. a IEI1~O BENTLEY WORKS, DONCASTER COMPANY LIMITED Tel. 54177-8-9 London Office: 20 Albert Embankment, S.E.II. Tel. Reliance 7654 331*9 ADVERTISEMENTS ix G. PERCY TRENTHAM LIMITED BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS BIRMINGHAM IREADING LONDON GLOIJCESTER STOKE-ON-TRENT CARDIFF WOOD LANE BROMFORD BIRMINGHAM Erdington 2491 PANGBOURNE READING BERKS Pangbourne 411 NEW ROAD RAINHAM ESSEX Rainham 2902 UPTON LANE BARNWOOD GLOUCESTER Gloucester 66172 PARK HALL LONGTON STOKE-ON-TRENT Longton 39147 TRINITY HOUSE EAST CANAL WHARF. DOCKS, CARDIFF Cardiff 30256 x ADVERTISEMENTS i FERRANTI FACTORIES :s C i -- Ferranti Ltd., oneof th forfo ostosthe n esies electrcal Industry, produce a ide range of industrial and domestic electrical products from large power transformers to electric docks. To.day in sev,eral well-equipped factories, they sponsor far- reaching researches and extend the foremost manufacturing faciities to many branches of electrical engineering arnd electronics.: i : Power Transformers Electronic Computers Miniature Hermetically Sealed Voltage Regulators Electronic Devices Transformers and Chokes Valves and Cathode Ray Electric Firesa atd Space High Voltage A.C. xnd D.C. Tubes ' Testing Equipment Heaters Aircraft Navigational Equip- Fridge-Heater Domestic -Heat Power Flcrtor Correction ment Pump ' Capacitors * .: : - : Radar Equipm ent Electric Water Heaters A.C. and D.C. House Service :iMeasuring Inslrumentms and Switchboard Meters Switchboard Intrrumnents Electric Clocks A.C. ard D.C. Prepayment HermeticaUly Sealed Instru-: Radio and Television ments Meters Synthetic Resin.Bonded Paper Summation Metering Equip. Meter Testing Equipment ment Tubes and Cylinders Current and Voltage Trans-