Who will ever forget Putney Bridge? Lancashire men
who knew nothing of its parent in London, had now perforce to take a
lively personal interest in this wobbly structure. There were two others
but they were not so famous as this because they were not so frequently
used. Many things can be camouflaged to deceive aircraft, but I think a
bridge over a river would tax the most ingenious in this art, hence,
although hidden from direct observation from the enemy lines, the Hun
had the exact position of these bridges, and, what was more
disconcerting, he also had the exact range. So he "dusted" them at
irregular intervals with various calibres, and trips across resembled
the noble game of running the gauntlet. This portion of night reliefs
was naturally particularly exciting. The late Lt.-Col. Marshall, V.C.,
when second in command to the 6th L.F's., provided an amusing story for
the division one day when a couple of officers failed to salute him in
the middle of Putney Bridge, he walking calmly across, and
they--obviously hurrying. He pulled them up and strafed them duly, then,
to force his point, he stood on the bridge and caused them to pass him
two or three times in a dignified manner and salute him correctly.
Luckily the Boche did not interfere in this little humorous interlude.
The Redan was a large triangular redoubt, with the base resting on the
river and having an artificial moat through the middle and on its other
two sides. It had been built many years ago to defend Nieuport and in
this war had played its part.
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