General Wade Demolition Charge?

[Mike Jackson]

A plea for help from Sapper experts. Is the large, rounded item in the container at right foreground a General Wade Demolition Charge? The item(s) in the long, thin crate alongside the container is/are helpfully labelled CAMOUFLET SET, LIGHT. The figures - including Brig James Hill and Maj Gen Richard Gale -give further proof (as if any was needed) that in the British Army uniform regulations are a basis for negotiation.
591 Para Sqn RE_Equipment.01.jpg591 Para Sqn RE_Equipment.02.jpg

Mike, could it be the light itself, the box marked, appears only to contain legs/tripod? Regards Mark

[manchesters]

I think the box means a Light (weight) Camoflet Set, not a piece of lighting.

regards

[magpie]

This a general wade.

[Mike_2817]

Looks more like a larger version of the Beehive Charge Demolition No1 6" or similar which is a still drum filled with RDX/TNT with an inverted cone, which was fitted with steel legs when the charge when it explodes reversing the cone and creating a concentrated explosion.

http://www.mondial-defence.com/Uploa...e_Charge_1.pdf

Meaning of Camoflet which uses a similar technology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camouflet

[Mike Jackson]

Many thanks all - the more I look at it under full enlargement - packed in front (or behind) the charge (if that is what it is something that looks to me like a small generator or similar mechanical device. Could this be possible? Mike

[fairlie63]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

The figures - including Brig James Hill and Maj Gen Richard Gale -give further proof (as if any was needed) that in the British Army uniform regulations are a basis for negotiation.
Attachment 159076Attachment 159077

Lol, riding breeches and boots do look a bit incongruous with a Denison smock?

[Mike_2817]

Its what it says on the tin! A Camouflet breaching charge.

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

Its what it says on the tin! A Camouflet breaching charge.

Just for clarification - you mean that the contents of the container and the named wooden crate together make up the Camouflet Breaching Charge? I'm keen to be accurate in captioning the picture since it will be appearing in an article centred on but not exclusive to 591 Para Sqn RE that will be published in Militaria. Mike

[Rob Miller]

Wasn't it the bridge at Troarn which was famously destroyed using General Wade demolition charges?, I was given a guided tour there some years ago by Geoffrey Sneezum and I was under the impression they arrived in Normandy in a trailer in a Horsa Glider rather than a parachute container?

[nickg]

general wade charges were dropped by cle container and collected at the drop zone - they were used on the bridge at St Samson (Troarn but a milr further on) however they were no used correctly they should have been laid in two linesto create a cut line that would drop the intervening section of bridge road away - however due to the amount of enemy encountered when passing throung troarn (8 sappers on one jeep and trailer along with a full trailer of general wade charges) it was decided my Maj Rosevere OC 3 Para Sqn RE that a hasty demolition would be made - the charges in the trailer were blown as they were - thi cratered the bridge on one span but did not complete the demolition. this was completed by 2 troop 3rd Para Sqn under Capt T Jukes later in the day with a defensive screen from 8 Para.
the jeep and trailer were commandeered from Lt Maquis RAMC of 224 Fd Amb on the road south of le Mesnil earlier, It was abandoned on the return journey when it became inextricably bogged down by the riverside

Camoflet charges were made by driving a pole down some 6 feet or so - then a few sticks of plastic explosive were pushed to the bottom and shot this created a cavity a foot or so in diameter. More explosive was then tipped down the hole ti fill the cavity and when that was shot there would be a very large crater in the track or road that would require a lot of time and material to make good. today the sappers create the initial hole using a shaped charge called a beehive which achievs the same thing but with much less effort

[Mike Jackson]

NickG

VMT for those very useful details. Our article on 591 Para Sqn RE was published (in the French language) in Militaria magazine a couple of months ago. As further information comes to light we may be allowed by the Editor to write an update. Mike

[Voltigeur]

You can read an item on the camoflet in the middle of the following article.
Jo

http://www.tunnellersmemorial.com/tunnelling-companies/

[grenadierguardsman]

Its a shape charge i believe.
Andy