Sgt. Charles May, Royal Canadian Engineer

[Temujin]

BUT.......story is going back and forth, found this:

8 Parachute Battalion with 3 Parachute Squadron less 3 Troop were on DZ "K" to attack two bridges at Bures and the main road bridge beyond Troarn at St. Samson.



COMMENTS: now this seems to indicate that indeed this was the bridge beside St Samson???



And this:

He at once attempted to reach the bridge with a small party but was unable to get through Troarn owing to the enemy. Later in the day Lieutenant Wade was able to reach the bridge on foot alone and found one span destroyed. On the results of this reconnaissance a party was organised under Captain Juckes including a platoon of 8th Parachute Battalion. Lieutenant Wade was able to reach the bridge with his Jeep and trailer covered by this party and successfully demolished a second span and destroyed two boats on the site. On completion of initial RE tasks, the whole Squadron was in defensive positions in Le Mesnil area.

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/tony_wade.htm

[Temujin]

OK, confirmed. The monument is AT the same bridge that I think may have been the bridge the 5th Field Company built (the Stalker Bridge).......so we ARE talking about the bridge you posted Phil.

NOW, to see if their is anyway I can CONFIRM that this bridge in Troarn/St Samson is the location of the “Stalker Bridge”??

843CCB4F-E339-413C-846D-5FB06967EC55.jpeg (441.73 KiB) Viewed 15545 times

[Temujin]

What I”m doing now:

5th Cdn Field Company, RCE was part of First Cdn Army Troops Company............so I’m researching the War Diaries of their HQ’s.

I found the Diairies at LAC (thru Heritage Canadiana) on Reel T-17812

I’m going thru them now. Takes a while, as their really isn’t a good search engine at Heritage Canadiana......so have to manually look thru the files until I find the right date.......finger’s crossed that I’ll see a message or something that gives me a clue to this puzzle

Cheers

[Temujin]

Getting closer........just found the message from 5th Field Company to First Army Troops HQ’s

Its requesting material in order to CONVERT the bridge at MR 237720 to a CLASS 30 bridge?

This CONFIRMS, that their indeed WAS A BAILEY BRIDGE at the location that was FIRST PLOTTED by Phil. This is the location on the highway D675 over the canal......and 3 Platoon was sent their on the 22 Aug 44 to continue the maintenance of this bridge.

So.......now if I can just find anything on the Stalker Bridge

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This WILL TAKE A WHILE (unless I get lucky) to find, have to open each page one by one and read them (and their’s thousands of pages)

[Temujin]

Now I found the message that sent a platoon of 5th Field Company to Demouville to pick up all the equipment at the water point and return it to 10 Field Park Company...........

BAC095FD-2766-4B15-A95B-70784A82CDA7.jpeg (374.27 KiB) Viewed 15545 times

[Temujin]

Found the message that tells them to STOP WORK on the bridge at Troarn. I believe this is the first bridge (the 2 x 60 foot x Class 70 bridge that was then “converted” to a single Class 70 x 130 foot bridge)........I hope I’m getting closer

E2759D5A-A8D3-4CBA-AFC5-96F6955123CC.jpeg (350.69 KiB) Viewed 15545 times

AND this message about a “whole bunch” of road repair equipment. I believe this was for the road work they were doing at Bamville

330554F9-66E3-4A99-9464-FB9EF6F82CCE.jpeg (379.89 KiB) Viewed 15545 times

[Temujin]

Found the message when Sapper Waddling was killed

306FA7AD-4641-4228-B4C7-A75C283C22E2.jpeg (388.64 KiB) Viewed 15545 times

[Temujin]

Just found the order for 5th Field Company to build a Class 18 Bailey at Traurn on the 21st Aug 44.....unfortunately message doesn’t give Map Reference.......still looking......getting closer

3BEC9896-4F33-4EFE-9A49-A8C8A6592C2E.jpeg (391.28 KiB) Viewed 15545 times

[Temujin]

I GOT IT>>>>>>>>>>HOOORRAAAAAY

Found a message ordering bridging material for a Bridge at MAP REFERENCE 176680

THIS IS THE BRIDGE between Troarn and St Samson built on the 21 Aug 44

I’ll keep looking to see if I can find a message allowing them to name the Bridge

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[Temujin]

Here’s all the message’s telling you the progress on the bridge.......still looking for a message on a name

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