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Description

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Chronicle L.P. date unknown.”

Newspaper clipping glued to back: “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 back: “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. I was overseas at the time so have no recollection of the incident. F.C. Swanwick. Date can only be guessed at as between 1942-45. Later information – Footbridge was put across missing span. Passengers from buses walked across to a bus on the other side. It was some years before new bridge was built.”

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

Span collapse on the old wooden bridge at Wirokino, 1940s.

1 B&W photo print, copy

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Identification

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Taxonomy

Tags
1940,
bridge manawatu river,
bridges,
hhs photograph collection,
wirokino (foxton),
Community Tags

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Related items

Whirokino Bridge
Whirokino Bridge
Swing Bridge, Otaki Gorge
Suspension Bridge, Otaki Gorge
Opening of Rangitane Suspension Bridge, Jan. 1918
Construction of new Opiki bridge, 1969
R.N.Z.A.F. Airbase Kimberley (Weraroa), 1940
Governor-General with Dr. Thompson & others at Air Training Wing, Kimberley, 1940's
R.N.Z.A.F. Airbase Kimberley (Weraroa), 1940, aerial view
Whirokino Bridge
Shannon - Moutoa Bridge
Whirokino Bridge After Span Collapse