By Hardy Kenwright
Second Division Bridge Club Match:
Unwelcome
invitation from M.G. Paul De Krakere:
Yesterday,
I received an invitation from M.G. Paul De Krackere, to be his guest to observe
a Second Division Bridge Match. A second class card game held little appeal to
me so, I must admit, that I quickly got onto the Telegraph and tried to pass
this assignment on to Daryll Beaderday, the NYIT’s popular Entertainments Correspondent.
Unfortunately Daryll had tickets for an Al Green concert tomorrow night could
not get here and back to New York in the time available.
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| Divisional Engineer's Pontoon Boat. |
I
was more than pleasantly surprised this morning to find that it was a ‘Bridge
building’ Match between teams from each of the Brigades of 2nd
Division. Each team was assisted by the advice and guidance of attached
Engineer Officers and NCO’s.
The
Theory:
The
object was for each team to bridge the creek running along the east side of the
camp and build a crane capable of raising goods from a rowboat on the creek.
using only the pre-set equipment provided.
The
structures were then judged for quality, the speed of erection and the economical
use of equipment, by 2nd Division Engineer Officer, Major Hans
Zimmerhammer.
The
Iowan Brigade won this leg, also managing to use the fewest pieces of kit,
(however this would backfire for them later).
The
Practice:
The
teams then raced to unload two barrels of beer and two boxes of eggs from a
boat using their crane. Teams were marked for speed and condition of the goods
once landed.
The
3rd Brigade won this leg, managing to avoid breaking any of their eggs,
although the beer was rather well shaken.
The
Finale:
Finally,
the teams had to get all the goods across their bridge to the Quartermaster on
the far side. Again, Teams were judged on speed and condition of the goods once
delivered.
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| The winning Massachuetts Brigade |
The
finale was a clear win for the Massachusetts Brigade. Apart from, it seems,
being far more adept than the other teams at portage, the time they lost
earlier making a bridge wide enough for two men to cross at one time paid
dividends now as they fair ran across with their goods.
M.G.
Paul De Krackere congratulated all the participants for their great innovation, imagination and teamwork.
The
remaining eggs went back to Q.M. (Provisions) Major Roland Buttar, while the
teams got to keep the barrels of beer. They will have to show patience now
whilst they wait for the beer to settle down.
Major
Hans Zimmerhammer, explained to me that it was important for the boys to be
confident with using tools, handling equipment, tying knots and understanding
pulleys as it enables them to assist with basic engineering needs even should
trained engineers not be available.
Further
exercises of this nature are planned.
