VOL.LXV. No. 2 JUNE, 1951 THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL CONTENTS A Golden Jubilee with Oil Engines-Akroyd, Diesel and others Major-General A. E. Davidson 116 The S.M.E.. The Commandant, S.M.E. 141 The "Leader" Project-Engineer Resources LUeut.-Colonel J. C. R. Fitzgerald-Lombard 148 Sand in the Works . E. Bawtree 162 Concrete in Defence . Major W. G. F. Jackson 165 The Town Planning of Military Housing Estates Brigadier F. C. Nottingham 170 Demolitions in the Withdrawal-The Remagen Bridge Major M. L. Crosthwait 180 The Party . Major-General G. E. Grimsdale 194 "Operation Plainfare" (concluded) . Colonel A. MacG. Stewart 197 Construction Work in Winter Warfare . Major S. H. Clark 212 i Memoirs, Correspondence, Book Reviews, Technical Notes . 215 :.! PUBw :ERS CHA' 2669 INSTITUTION OF RE OFFICE COPY DO NOT REMOVE AGE1 lAM 1.1 --·---- · -· -- -- --·· -·-· -------- ·-······-· I CE M E N TAT I O N fr sealing waktr Usges, arresting setlement of structures, remedying deterioratio of concrete or masonr works. G U N IT E : for reconditioning defective concrete strc- tures, encasing structural steelwork, lining tunnels, water reservoirs and other works. F U N D AT I O N S: underpinning of damaged 1 propert presents little dificulty if FRA NCO IS BORED PILES are used. G ENTATIoN- W. &J. MACKAYAND Co. LTD. FAIR ROW, CHATHAM Book, Magazine, Catalogue and Colour J PRINTERS AND BINDERS &Ohfdow.^ CdP~~99" ^ 1^M PROCESS ENGRAVERS Tele pone CLatLam 2243-2244 ADVERTISEMENTS i Chief Architect to the London County Council-Robert H. Matthew, A.R.I.B.A. Consulting Engineers-Messrs. Scott & Wilson. Contractors-Messrs. Holland & Hannen and Cubitts. The selection of five Cementone Products and also Exelaero Wall Flat for use on the Royal Festival Hall once again indicates the usefulness of the Cementone range of products for colouring, hardening, waterproofing and decorative work. The products selected were :- * CEMENTONE No. I COLOURS-for colouring concrete paving. * CEMENTONE No. 2 WATERPROOFING POWDER-for waterproofing mass concrete and cement renderings. * CEMENTONE No. 7 FLAT AND GLOSS FINISHES-for internal decorative work. * CEMENTONE No. 8 LIQUID CONCRETE HARDENER-used in a cement slurry as a key for all internal and external plaster surfaces. * CEMENTONE No. 9 WATERPROOF STONEFACE COMPOSITION-for external decoration and protection. * EXELAERO WALL FLAT-for the decoration of the main internal fibrous plaster ceiling, etc. Full information and literature concerning the Cementone Products will be forwarded on request. YOU CAN DEPEND ON 701dWIr JOSEPH FREEMAN SONS & CO. LTD., Cementone Works, London, S.W.18 Telephone : Vandyke 2432 (5 Lines) Telegrams : Cementone, Souphone, London m ii ADVERTISEMENTS THE VICTAULIC COMPANY LTD. Brook House, 113 Park Lane, London, W.1. ADVERTISEMENTS 11i DII1NG ROOM OF THE IEMPRESS OF SCOTLAND' An Inlaid Linoleum Installation by SEMTEX LIMITED This installation, carried out to the high standard ldeml(anded by nmari.ne architects, demlonstrates the imafl/inattive choice of nlateirials8and skill in laying provided by SEMTEX LIMITEI) in, ships and bilildings SEMTEX LDIITED, 185-187-189, FINCIILEY RD., LONDON, N.W.3. TELEPITONE: M[AIDA VALE 6070. TELEGRAMS: SEMTEX, IIAVEll, LONDON IlInes n at:]e Alberdcin, Belfast, llirmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Colcliestr, D)iph.l. EIliiburgh, Glasgow, HIull, Leeds, Lcicestcr, Liverpool, London (Sales Office), Manchestcr, Mlil'eslrl .'li Newcastle, Plymouth, Sheffield, Southampton. 5U1SE/02 'A M iv ADVERTISEMENTS By Appointment Makers of Weatherproof Clothing to His Majesty The King Burberry Hacking Jacket with slant side pockets. Deep centre vent. In Burscot Tweed. Slacks in tan shade Cavalry Twill or Bedford Cord. FancyWaistcoats in Sporting colours. BURBERRYS HAYMARKET, LONDON, S.W.I Telegrams: Burberry, Lesquare, London Telephone: Whitehall 3343 BURBERRYS LTD THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL Authors alone are responsible for the statements made and the opinions expressed in their papers. VOL. LXV CONTENTS JUNE, 1951 PAGE i. A GOLDEN JUBILEE WITH OIL ENGINES-AKROYD, DIESEL AND OTHERS. BY MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. DAVIDSON, C.B., D.S.O., M.I.MECH.E., M.L.MAR.E. (COLONEL COMMANDANT, R.E., RETD.) (With Photographsand Diagrams) . 16 2. TIE S.M.E. A STATEMENT BY TIIE COMMANDANT, S.M.E., AT EXERCISE "FRESCO. 141 3. THE "LEADER " PROJECT-ENGINEER RESOURCES. BY LIEUT.-COLONEL J. C. R. FITZGERALD-LOMBARD, O.B.E., R.E. 148 4. SAND IN THE WVORKS. BY E. BAWTREE, B.SC. (ENG.), M.I.E.E., A.M.I.MECH.E. (Reproducedfrom " Distribution of Electricity " by permission of the Editor.) .1 6 2 5. CONCRETE IN DEFENCE. BY MAJOR XV. G. F. JACKSON, M.C., R.E. 165 6. THE TOWN PLANNING OF MILITARY HOUSING ESTATES. BY Brigadier F. C. NOTTINCIAM, D.S.O., O.B.E. (With Photographs and Diagrams) .. 170 7. DEMOLITIONS IN THE WITHDRAWAL-THE REMAGEN BRIDGE. BY MAJOR M. L. CROSTHWAIT, M.B.E., R.E. (With Sketches) . 180 8. THE PARTY. BY THE LATE MAJOR-GENERAL G. E. GRIMSDALE . 194 9. " OPERATION PLAINFARE" (Concluded). BY COLONEL A. MACG. STEWART . 197 10. CONSTRUCTION WORK IN WINTER XVARFARE. BY MAJOR S. H. CLARK, R.E. 212 II. MEMOIRS . 2152 BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. L. SCIIREIBER, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. (With Photograph) . C.C.P. MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ERNEST D. SWINTON, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. (With Photograph) . C.C.P. COLONEL C. TOPHAM, O.B.E., M.C. A.D.C. 12. CORRESPONDENCE . 223 THE WEIGII-BATCIIING OF CONCRETE 13. BOOK REVIEWS . 224 FORTRESS TOBRUK . M.C.A.H. WAR IN THE SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC-SAIPAN AND PELELIU . M.C.A.H. BALL OF FIRE . M.C.A.H. CONTRACTORS' PLANT . A.R.T. SITE INVESTIGATIONS . M.B.A. TIE COMPACTION OF SOIL . W.A.M. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONGRESS OF RADIONICS AND RADIESTHESIA . F.A.I. DRAINAGE (SEWERAGE) . R.C.N.S. THE DESIGN OF PRISMATIC STRUCTURES . D.A.S. 14. TECHNICAL NOTES . 230 THE MILITARY ENGINEER PRE-TENSIONED CONCRETE SULPHATE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF PORTLAND CEMENT TENSION CABLE DREDGER TIIE BAILEY BRIDGE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING THE COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS (Incorporated by Royal Charter, 27th February, 1923) Patron-HIS MAJESTY THE KING 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 A. D. Campbell, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. 1948 Major-General J. C. F. Holland, C.B., D.F.C ... ... ... 1951 Elected Brigadier A. G. Bonn, C.B.E., M.C....... ... ... 1948 Lieut.-Colonel W. B. Sykes ... ......... 1943 Major-General C. A. West, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. .. 1948 Colonel F. C. W. Fosbery ... ...... 1948 Colonel R. P. G. Anderson ......... 1949 Brigadier R. K. Millar, D.S.O ...... ... ... ... 1949 Brigadier J. S. W. Stone, C.B.E., M.C. 1949 Brigadier C. D. Steel, O.B.E. ... ... ... ... ... 1949 Major W . M. Inglis ... ... ... ... 1949 Brigadier C. G. Martin, V.C., C.B.E., D.S.O .... ... 1950 Lieut.-Colonel F. A. Rayfield ...... ... ... 1950 Colonel R. M. A. Welchman ...... 1950 Captain J. L. Stevens ... ... ... ... 1950 Brigadier R. Gardiner, C.B.E ......... 1950 Ex-Officio Brigadier C. E. A. Browning, C.B.E., M.C. .... ... ... D/E.-in-C., W.O. Colonel 1. G. Loch, O.B.E. .... ... ... ...... A.A.G., R.E. Brigadier B. C. Davey, C.B.E. ... ... .. ... Comd., S.M.E. Brigadier C. E. M. Herbert, C.B.E. ........ ..... .. D.Tn. Major-General L. D. Grand, C.B., C.I.E., C.B.E. ... ... D.F.W. Brigadier J. C. T. Willis, O.B.E. ...... ... ... Dir. of Mil. Survey Colonel C. M. Maclachlan, O.B.E. ... ... ... ... D/Comd., S.M.E. Brigadier L. F. Heard, C.B.E. ... ... ... ... Comd., Trg. Bde., R.E. Corresponding Members Major-General K. Ray, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., Union Defence Force, South Africa ... ... ....Ist ... ... January, 1949 Lieut.-Colonel A. R. Currie, D.S.O., New Zealand Military Forces Ist January, 1949 Colonel H.W. Love, O.B.E., Canadian Army ...... ..... I st February, 1949 Brigadier J. Mann, D.S.O., Australian Military Forces ... ... Ist March, 1949 Secretary and Editor R.E.Journol 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. 3,660. 1.0.S1. A Golden Jubilee With Oil Engines, Akroyd,Diesel and Others 1 A GOLDEN JUBILEE WITH OIL ENGINES AKROYD, DIESEL, AND OTHERS By MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. DAVIDSON, C.B., D.S.O., M.I.MECH.E., M.I.MAR.E. (Colonel Commandant, R.E., Retd.) Extracts from the Presidential Address given at the General:'Meeting of the Diesel Engine Users Association on igth October, g950. Published by permission of the Association, who have very kindly loaned the blocksfor the illustrationsnow reproduced. INTRODUCTORY TT is usually the case that the President in his Address dwells largely on the experiences of his lifetime, and to-day I propose to deal mainly with matters of history, particularly military history. I feel greatly honoured by my fellow members in being elected to the presidential chair, as I cannot claim to have followed directly in the steps of the majority of my distinguished predecessors, in that the care of diesel generating stations has never been my sole occupation. Nevertheless my viewpoint over a long period of time, completing a jubilee this year, has been mainly that of the user; sometimes as inspector for the user, at others in executive charge of engines or, again, in administrative charge. Mostly I have been in close co-operation with manufacturers, who were at all times found to be most willing to co-operate to meet the user's needs.