Inglis Mark I Bridge


A World War One British design, many were built by Canadian Engineers in Northern France and Belgium during the “100 Days Campaign” of 1918. As the Germans retreated the Canadians advanced over 80 miles. And as they withdrew German engineers destroyed hundreds of bridges. The prefabricated Inglis was the answer. It could be built by either the gantry method or by constructing the bridge on a turntable parallel to the river, then rotating it 90 degrees. The larger bridges had construction crews in the hundreds and could take a day or two to build. Smaller ones could be built in half a day. Once a permanent bridge was built alongside, the Inglis was dismantled and shipped forward for another build. The Inglis Mark I was too narrow for the Mark V tanks and in 1919 was replaced by the wider, heavier Mark II.   

Double Lock Bridge. A wooden bridge, the first known builds occurred during the Peninsular Campaign of 1808-14. There, the Royal Engineers used them to bridge ravines in Spain and Portugal. It was made from wooden poles and lashings and could span gaps up to 45 feet. The wider and heavier ones could support not only horses and men but wagons and artillery as well. They were constructed well into the 20th century. 

A Military Police team has been provided for the bridge. They are controlling traffic, assisting civilian refugees, providing directions and directing prisoners to their cages. 

Calvary Regiments and Mounted Rifle Battalions were used for rear area security during trench warfare. During the German retreat in 1918 they were sent forward. Their missions being reconnaissance, pursuit and harassment. If they encountered stragglers, they captured them. If they encountered resistance, they either withdrew and reported the enemy to headquarters or dismounted and fought as infantry. 

The General Service Mark X Wagon could be drawn by either two or four horses and carried approximately 1 ton. Of the 34 wagons in a Canadian Engineer Battalion 11 were Mark X wagons. The rest being water trailers, mobile kitchens, tool carts and limbers. 

Over 25,000 horses saw service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  Most were brought over from Canada. Large numbers of mules, donkeys and oxen were also employed either as pack animals or to draw wagons and artillery. 

Dennis 3 Ton Truck and Vauxhall D-Type Staff Car. The Canadian Army Service Corps were primarily issued British 4x2 trucks. Manufacturers included Daimler, Dennis and Thornycroft. During trench warfare trucks moved supplies from the railhead to forward supply dumps. During the 100 Days Campaign they were deployed behind the assaulting Brigades. By wars end the Canadian Corps had 3000 vehicles. Most were 3 Ton trucks.

Vehicle Colours.  Vehicles were to be painted Service Green at the factory. However, there were reportedly large variations in the colour due to the quality and intensity of the pigments. This has been confirmed by the analysis of paint chips from WW1 vehicles as well as attempts by museums and collectors to replicate the colours using the old paint recipes. Other vehicles were painted brown or gray.

Vehicle Markings were not standardized until August 1918. The Dennis 3-ton is in Service Corps markings, the Mark X wagon is in 12th Canadian Engineer Battalion markings and the staff car is from Divisional Headquarters. All have 4th Canadian Division and WD (War Department) markings.

Motorcycles were primarily used by Canadian Signal Corps couriers to relay orders, documents and messages between higher headquarters and their units. 

Weapons are a mix of bolt action Lee Enfield rifles, Lewis light machine guns and pistols. 

Water Supply. The town’s water supply has been partially restored by Canadian Engineer water supply teams and the horse trough returned to operation. 

Route Clearance work by the engineers includedfilling in craters and removing rubble.