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Old wooden bridge at Wirokino, Span Collapse, 1940's

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.”