Military vehicles cross bridges created by Defence Forces personnel during training exercise at Athgarvan.
Military personnel from Dublin, Limerick, Athlone and Galway watch a demonstration of river crossing method on the Liffey at Athgarvan in County Kildare.
The troops are attending a two week course in Athgarvan and represent all six field companies of the Army Corps of Field Engineers. Three of the companies are from the permanent defence force and the remainder are Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA) (local defence force) Companies.
The attendance includes Officer Commanding (OC), Department of Engineering, McDermott Barracks, Curragh Camp Lieutenant colonel JJ Kennedy. Also in attendance are Commandant W White OC School of Engineering and Colonel RG Mew, Director of Engineering.
Five methods of river crossings are demonstrated from a basic foot brigde made to carry infantry in single file, to the robust bailey bridge, capable of carrying a 35 ton Comet tank.
Soldiers watch as a light truck crosses a pontoon bridge. The demonstration ends with two large Comet tanks, crossing the bailey bridge.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 24 July 1962. The footage shown here is mute.
