By: Allan Sinclair, Director: DITSONG: National Museum of Military History

This article examines a watercolour painting by L. T. Burrage depicting the Springbok Bridge, a 990 ft high-level Bailey bridge constructed over the River Po at Pontelagoscuro, Italy. At the time, it was the longest bridge of its kind ever attempted. 

Leslie Thomas Burrage was one of the seven officially appointed South African artists of the Second World War (1939 – 1945). His main contribution to the scheme was his depiction of the activities of the South African Engineer Corps (SAEC), which played a pivotal role in the Italian Campaign (1943 – 1945). This theatre of war favoured the German defenders more than the Allies, owing mainly to the nature of the Italian topography which the Germans exploited with skill and precision.  As they retreated northward, they systematically destroyed every bridge and tunnel along their path. Allied engineering units were therefore much in demand in maintaining the rate of advance along this destroyed highway system.  Various SAEC units supported both the British 8^th Army and the United States 5^th Army in this effort.

Discussions on the design and method of construction of a permanent Bailey bridge over the Po began in September 1944. Aerial reconnaissance photographs taken while the Po was still under enemy control, along with records and local sources, confirmed that the river was at least 305 m wide along its course. It was only in February 1945, after an officer of the SAEC had proceeded to the United Kingdom to consult Donald Bailey himself regarding the special reinforcing required for exceptionally strong spans, that the SAEC proposals for a Class 40 high-level bridge were accepted in principle.

Before the construction of the bridge, a trial bridge was built at Cesenatico and successfully tested using four Churchill tanks. Work then commenced on the main bridge on 26 April.  It was constructed of triple-double reinforced Bailey girders and spanned a continuous 1 010 ft (307 m), running on rollers located on all three original piers. The spans measured 220 ft (67 m), 265 ft (80 m) and 220 ft (67m) respectively. South African sappers from two field companies and one field park company SAEC carried out the construction, while two Italian pioneer companies provided labour necessary for the completion of the project.

On 2 May, news arrived that the German forces in Italy had surrendered.  It was agreed, however, that work should continue on the bridge as it was vital that the armies in Italy be maintained with proper communications. The bridge was completed in the remarkably short time of eight days.  At the opening on 4 May 1945, the bridge was officially named “Springbok Bridge” in honour of the patience, skill and untiring efforts of the SAEC personnel involved.

The structure stood for several years as a semi-permanent bridge. While the Allied forces remained in Italy, use of the bridge was restricted and careful control was exercised on the spacing of the vehicles travelling over it.  At the time Burrage was working on the painting in question, heavy rains in the Turin area had raised the river level river by 17 ft (5,2 m), making the other pontoon bridges constructed in the area unusable.  As a result, both northbound and southbound traffic had to make use of the bridge at the time.

References

Official Second World War Art Catalogue (DITSONG: National Museum of Military History).

File 920, Burrage Leslie Thomas (DITSONG: National Museum of Military History).

Orpen, N & Martin, H J Salute the Sappers Part 2 (Sappers Association, Johannesburg, 1982).