There were two types of Bridging Trains: one relied on horse transport and was a unit of the Corps of Royal Engineers, while the other was a unit of the Mechanical Transport section of the Army Service Corps. The original Bridging Trains changed their titles to Pontoon Parks in 1916. As the name suggests, they were principally involved in the construction and repair of bridges.
The following information is from “War Establishments of the New Armies”, a War Office publication of 1915.
Horse Transport Bridging Train
This type of train was organised into a small headquarters, a mounted branch (which would be subdivided into two half-trains) and a dismounted branch.
Personnel: all were of HQ or Mounted Branch unless indicated.
- 1 Major in command
- 1 Captain second in command
- 4 Subalterns (that is, Lieutenants or Second-Lieutenants)
- 1 Company Sergeant Major
- 1 Company Quartermaster Sergeant
- 8 Sergeants Mounted and 1 Dismounted
- 1 Farrier Sergeant
- 10 Shoeing and Carriage-smiths (of which 3 would be Corporals)
- 8 Corporals Mounted and 1 Dismounted
- 9 2nd-Corporals Mounted and 1 Dismounted
- 30 Sappers Dismounted (of which 6 would be trained in the repair of pontoons)
- 1 Orderly Mounted (usually a Sapper or Pioneer) and 1 Dismounted for the Medical Officer
- 143 Drivers (119 for vehicles, 12 for spare draught horses, 12 spare)
- 10 Batmen (usually Sappers or Pioneers, trained and equipped as fighting men)
- 1 Officer attached from Royal Army Medical Corps
- 2 Privates attached from Royal Army Medical Corps for water duties
- 1 Officer attached from Army Veterinary Corps
- 1 interpreter provided by French authorities
Horses:
- 54 riding horses
- 245 heavy draught horses
Transport:
- 1 Bicycle
- 3 Maltese carts (for medical equipment and water)
- 1 limbered General Service Wagon for cooks (1 Driver and 2 horses allocated)
- 4 General Service Wagons (8 Drivers and 16 horses)
- 42 Pontoon Wagons (84 Drivers and 168 horses. 42 pontoons and structure to construct 210 yards of medium bridge or 105 of heavy bridge)
- 8 Trestle Wagons (16 Drivers and 32 horses. 16 trestles and structure to construct 40 yards of medium bridge or 20 of heavy bridge)
Mechanical Transport Bridging Train
This type of train was organised into a small headquarters, a workshop and the transport.
Personnel:
- 1 Captain in command
- 2 Subalterns (that is, Lieutenants or Second-Lieutenants)
- 1 Company Sergeant Major
- 1 Company Quartermaster Sergeant
- 1 Sergeant
- 2 Corporals
- 81 Drivers (64 for the lorries (including 6 Corporals and 6 Lance-Corporals), 4 for cars, 6 for general duties, 7 spare)
- 31 Cleaners (rank of Private)
- 4 Batmen (usually Privates or Drivers, trained and equipped as fighting men)
- 2 Orderlies for Medical Officer (one a Lance-Corporal)
- 2 Workshop Foremen
- 22 Artificers (12 fitters and turners, 4 wheelers, 4 blacksmiths, 2 electricians) (includes 2 Sergeants and 2 Corporals)
- 2 Subalterns attached from the Royal Engineers
- 1 Company Sergeant Major attached from the Royal Engineers
- 1 Company Quartermaster Sergeant attached from the Royal Engineers
- 1 Sergeant attached from the Royal Engineers
- 1 Corporal attached from the Royal Engineers
- 1 2nd-Corporal attached from the Royal Engineers
- 18 Sappers attached from the Royal Engineers (including 1 Lance-Corporal and 6 men trained in the repair of pontoons)
- 2 Batmen attached from the Royal Engineers (usually Sappers or Pioneers)
Transport:
- 4 motor cars
- 42 Pontoon Wagons
- 21 Four Wheel Drive Pontoon Wagons
- 8 Trestle Wagons
- 4 Four Wheel Drive Trestle Wagons
- 7 lorries (2 for workshop, 2 for stores, 3 spare)
- 6 motorcycles