-------------------------- VOL. LXVII. No. 4 DECEMBER, 1953 THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL CONTENTS Presentation of the Freedom of the Borough of Gillingham to the Corps of Royal Engineers . 309 R.E. Planning and Operations for the Rhine Crossing Brigadier F. C. Nottingham 315 Coronation Camps, 1953 . Colonel R. N. Foster 332 Demolitions . Major A. H. W. Sandes 339 Palletization of Military Cargoes . Captain P. K. A. Todd 350 The Construction of Eight Prestressed Concrete Tanks Colonel A. Raymond Mais and A. C. Little 361 Punjab Flood-September, 1950 . Captain J. S. R. Shave 381 Are You Plant Minded ? . "The Duffer" 398 The Tragedy of Polly Phase . Brigadier A. MacG. Stewart 402 Memoirs, Book Reviews, Technical Notes . 404 PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS CHATHAM, KENT Telenhnnea - tlhk.am ^A&^ 1 \ INSTITUTION OF RE OFFICE COPY AGEI [AM DO NOT REMOVE i _ J (7 CEMENTATION: for sealing water leOcages, arresting settlement of strcures, remedying deteriation of concrete or masonry works. G U N I T E: for reconditioning defective concrete suc- tures, encasing structural steelwork, lining tunnels, water reservoirs and other works. FOUNDATIONS: underpinning of damaged property presents little difficulty if FR A NC O IS BORED PILES are used. COMPANY LIMITED BENTLEY WORKS, DONCA8TER TeL DON 541779 THE PRINTERS OF THIS JOURNAL Mackays of Chatham will be pleased to receive your inquiries and orders for Printing, Bookbinding and Blockmaking Phone CHATHAM 2243 W. & J. MACKAY & Co. LTD. FAIR ROW, CHATHAM ADVERTISEMENTS i VIKING JOHNSON 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. VICTAULIC 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 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. - WA 1* VAIl N THE VICTAULIC COMPANY LIMITED Manufacturers of Victaulic Joints and Viking Johnson Couplings Registered Trade Marks 'VICTAULIC ' and 'VIKING '. Brook House, Park Lane, W.I 7 11 ADVERTISEMENTS Building for the Industries of the World - V WAT E R Swansea Usk Pipeline Contract. 33A miles constructed in 6 sections of 28"-27"-26" & 20" pipes. Approximately one-third of the distance is in terrain similar to that pictured above. Other sections include nine under water and eight above water crossings with spans up to 150 ft. Constructed for the Swansea Corporation Water Department. Consulting Engineers: Binnie, Deacon& Gourley. RICHARD COSTAIN BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS LIMITED DOLPHIN SQUARE, LONDON, S.W.1 VICTORIA 6624 Branches: MIDDLE EAST * RHODESIA AND NIGERIA ADVERTISEMENTS iii RUBEROID SPECIFICATIONS for all waterproofing purposes * RUBEROID two-layer built-up system of roofing for renewing close boarded roofs, previously tiled or slated. * RUBEROID two- or three-layer built-up system for flat or pitched, concrete or boarded roofs. * RUBEROID Steel Roof Deck for all types of roofs, flat or pitched. * RUBEROID Bridge Insulation specification. * RUBEROID Tanking specification. * RUBEROID buried external hot water main specification. * RUBEROID Crecel Jointing and Sealing Compound for concrete roads, runways, hardstandings, etc. * RUBEROID road emulsions for road and runway dressings. * RUBEROID Plastic Compounds for the protection of metal and concrete. * RUBERINE Bituminous Paint for the protection of all types of metal structures. For Roofing Compositions in Liquid and Plastic Form, quote Ministry of Supply Contract No. 6/stores/29309/CB 43 D. Manufacturers of P.B.S. (Prefabricated Bitumen Sheeting) THE RUBEROID COMPANY LTD. 177 COMMONWEALTH HOUSE, 1-19 NEW OXFORD STREET, LONDON, W.C.I iv ADVERTISEMENTS Fugglestone Camp, nr. Salisbury. Barrack Block. Fugglestone Camp, nr. Salisbury. Barrack Blocks and Dining Hall under Construction. SPEEDWELL HOWARD FARROW 0061 LO NDON & BRISTOL ADVERTISEMENTS v ADVERTISEMENTS V J. M. HILL & SONS LTD. 6&atvtiactyc6 Rt i /Miladiba a¢iv W lic 1/^AA HEATHER PARK DRIVE NORTH CIRCULAR RD. WEMBLEY, MIDDLESEX WEM 7781 vi ADVERTISEMENTS vi ADVERTISEMENTS ". h -- 1U1,1M By Appointment Alakers of Veatherproof Clothing to i f the Late King George VI 't ' ' '.S( N ix €^'s Christmas News from UYBiEEfr For delightful gifts, come to Burberrys ! two pockets, made in Scotland, from Their wide selection includes, as illustrated, ,4 19s. id. ; ladies' Botany wool twin ladies' lambswool lined leather gloves from sets in all colours, made in Scotland, from £2 6s. gd.; men's lambskin reverse gloves, /3 9s.; men's pure wool ties, fancy or hand sewn, with sack wrist, from ,;3 Ios.; plain colours, from 9s. 6d.; Argyll half- ladies' Jacqmar scarves, £4 gs. 6d.; men's hose, pure wool in various designs and lambswool cardigans with long sleeves and colours, 17s. 9d. per pair. HTAY[MAI I&I IIIE r ILONID ON s.. .1 Telephcne IVHltehall 3343 BURBERRYS LTD. THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL Authors alone are responsibleforthe statements made and the opinions expressed in theirpapers. VOL. LXVII CONTENTS DECEMBER, 1953 PAGE I. PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF TIHE BOROUGH OF GILLINGIIAM TO THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. (With Photographs) . 309 2. R.E. PLANNING AND OPERATIONS FOR THE RHINE CROSSING. BY BRIGADIER F. C. NOTTINGHAM, D.S.O., O.B.E. (With Photographs and Sketches) . 315 3. CORONATION CAMPS, 1953. BY COLONEL R. N. FOSTER, D.S.O., O.B.E. (With Folding Plate) . 332 4. DEMOLITIONS. BY MAJOR A. H. XV. SANDES, R.E. (Iith Sketches) . .339 5. PALLETIZATION OF MILITARY CARGOES. BY CAPTAIN P. K. A. TODD, R.E. 350 6. THE CONSTRUCTION OF EIGHT PRESTRESSED CONCRETE TANKS. BY COLONEL A. RAYMOND MAIS, O.B.E., T.D., D.L., M.I.STRUCT.E. AND A. C. LITTLE, B.SC. 361 7. PUNJAB FLOOD-SEPTEMBER, 1950. BY CAPTAIN J. S. R. SIAVE, M.C., R.E. (With Photographs) . 381 8. ARE You PLANT MINDED ? BY "THE DUFFER" . 398 9. THE TRAGEDY OF POLLY PIIASE. BY BRIGADIER A. MACG. STEWART . 402 10. MEMOIRS . 404 COLONEL G. A. P. MAXWELL, C.M.G., D.S.O., M.V.O., M.C. MAJOR-GENERAL SIR THEODORE FRASER, K.C.B., C.S.I., C.M.G. (With Photograph) BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIR CHARLES L. MAGNIAC, KT., C.M.G., C.B.E. (With Photograph) . C.C. 1. BOOK REVIEWS . 409 ATOMIC WEAPONS IN LAND COMBAT . T.I.LI. ATTACK IN THE NWEST . B.T.W. To BENGHAZI . B.T.W. 12. TECHNICAL NOTES . 412 INDUSTRIAL USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY THE MILITARY ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEERING THE COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS (Incorporated by Royal Charter, 27th February, 1923) Patron-HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN President Major-General Sir Horace E. Roome, K.C.I.E., C.B., C.B.E., M.C., D.L. ... 1951 Vice-Presidents Major-General J. C. F. Holland, C.B., D.F.C. .... ... ..... 1951 Major-General G. N. Tuck, C.B., O.B.E. ... ....... ......... 1952 Elected Colonel W. H. Bond ...... ........... 1951 Major-General C. de L. Gaussen, C.B., M.C. ...... ... 1951 Colonel A. R. Mais, O.B.E., T.D. ..... ... ... 1951 Major-General I. S. O. Playfair, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. ...... 1951 Brigadier G. F. Hutchinson, D.S.O. ..... .. ...... 1951 Major W. W. Chapman, T.D. ........ ......... 1952 Colonel J. F. D. Savage, D.S.O. ..... .. ...... 1952 Lieut.-Colonel F. W. Simpson, D.S.O. ......... 1952 Major-General J. F. D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C. ... ... 1952 Brigadier A. G. Bonn, C.B.E., M.C. .............. 1953 Major J. R. Cave-Browne, M.C. ............... 1953 Lieut.-ColonefJ. C. Lucas .... ... ... ... ... 1953 Lieut.-Colonel I. H. Lyall Grant, M.C ............. 1953 Brigadier K. Mackay, D.S.O., O.B.E. ........ ..... 1953 Captain J. A. Notley, M.B.E. ...... ..... ... ... 1953 Ex-Officio Brigadier F. C. W. Fosbery, C.B.E. ............. D/E.-in-C., W.O. Colonel G. C. Clark, O.B.E. ............... A.A.G., R.E. Brigadier C. E. A. Browning, C.B.E., M.C. ....... ... Comd., S.M.E. Brigadier G. J. Bryan, C.B.E. ... ... .. .. ..... D.Tn. Major-General D. C. T. Swan, C.B., C.B.E ........ ... D.F.W. Brigadier L. D. de V. Carey ...... .... ... ... Dir. of Mil. Survey Colonel E. S. de Brett .... ... ...... ... ... D/Comd., S.M.E. Brigadier R. P. G. Anderson ... ... ... ... Comd., Trg. Bde., R.E Corresponding Members Lieut.-Colonel A. R. Currie, D.S.O., New Zealand Military Forces Ist January, 1949 Colonel J. R. B. Jones, D.S.O., O.B.E., Canadian Army ...... Ist May, 1951 Colonel K. T. Gilson, D.S.O. Union Defence Force, South Africa ... Ist January, 1952 Brigadier R. R. McNicoll, Australian Military Forces ... Ist September, 1952 Secretary and Editor R.E. Journal Brigadier C. C. Phipps, C.B.E., M.C. ........ ... ... ... 13th January, 1945 Bankers Lloyds Bank, Ltd., Cox's and King's Branch, 6 Pall Mall, S.W.I. 3,850. 1.12.53. PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH OF GILLINGHAM- TO THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS VER since the arrival in 1812 of the R.E. Establishment (later called the S.M.E.) at Brompton Barracks, Gillingham has been the nearest village or town. The Borough of Gillingham was incor- porated on the 8th September, 1903. For some mysterious reason the postal address of the S.M.E. remained Chatham although Brompton Barracks lie in the Borough of Gillingham. In I953, the Jubilee Year of the Borough, the Gillingham Corporation sitting in council, magnanimously overlooked this slight to their civic pride and decided unanimously to confer the Freedom of the Borough on the Corps of Royal Engineers to commemorate their life-long association.