More Info →Whirokino Bridge After Span Collapse

Description

Newspaper clipping glued to reverse: “Last week’s item seeking information on the collapse of a span of the old wooden bridge spanning the Manawatu River at Wirokino in war-time days has brought response from three readers. Mrs E. Carle, Winchester Street, recalled that her son-in-law, Mr Ernest Sloan, whose parents had a farm near the bridge, heard cries for help when returning from milking. He helped in the rescue.”

Written with blue ballpoint pen on piece of paper glued to reverse: “Obviously this photo was published years after collapse as caption shows. Information received was an American Army jeep hit the side of the bridge collapsing part of the bridge & that the jeep went in the river with another vehicle (American Army followed by a cyclist). Another story was one American vehicle & two cyclists. The incident was hushed up under security regulations & by what people have told me it was some years & until after the war that the bridge was replaced. Date can only be guessed at as between 1942-44. C F Swanwick. No-one injured”

Also written with blue ballpoint pen on piece of paper glued to reverse: “Photo copied from a clipping in Lancaster Album. Courtesy of Mrs Jean Rolston. Copied courtesy Mr Bryce, April 16, 1979.”

Whirokino Bridge viewed from the south, after a central span had collapsed, due to being hit by an American vehicle during World War II. In this photograph a boat is crossing the Manawatu River. There are a number of people on both sides of the bridge. Comprehensive notes on reverse of photograph relate the incident with the American vehicle.

See also 2000.063.0001

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Identification

Date

1942 to 1944