A Story of Two Bridges
01/03/2010 at 15:25 | Posted in Cyrenaica | 28 CommentsTags: Wadi al Kuf, Wadi al Kuf Bridge
NOW
Wadi al Kuf (sometimes written as Wadi el Kouf) is a valley in the Green Mountain (Jebel Al Khdar) of Cyrenaica in eastern Libya about 180 kms east of Benghazi. The name el Kuf most probably comes from the word Ku-huf in Arabic meaning caves, which are seen all around the valley walls. In ancient times it had another name as Wadi e Jerreib وادي الجريب .
Wadi al Kuf Bridge at present is the largest steel cable and concrete bridge in Libya. It connects the two mountain cities of Al Marj and Al Bayda. The Bridge pillars rise majestically 160 meters above the Wadi al Kuf, and can be seen from a long distance. It was designed by the Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi and was constructed by the Italian company C.S.C. between 1965 and 1971, at a cost of 5,300,000 US Dollars.
BEFORE
The only means to cross Wadi al Kuf, at ancient times, was to walk or ride down to its bottom from east or west and coming up at its other side. After the Italians colonized Libya, they had built a small bridge connecting both sides at the wadi bed. Later on, this bridge was destroyed by fighting armies in Second World War.
In 1948, during the British Administration after the war and before independence of Libya, the British Army Engineers (R.E.M.E.) built a new bridge, which remains are still in existence at the wadi bed.
The pictures below show the opening ceremony by Emir Idris El Senussi (not yet King of Libya at the time). These pictures are a courtesy of my friend M. Jean-pierre Misson, whose father, Capt. Robert Misson, a Belgian in the British army since 1941. Capt. R. Misson was a Liaison Officer between the British Administration and the Emir Idris El Senussi, and he appears in the following pictures (1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 11) as the civilian wearing light coloured dress and sunglasses.
An Update (30/07/2010):
The following pictures were taken when the old bridge was erected by a member of the ” British” Royal Engineers ( who erected the bridge and not the REME ) as was noted by our friend JMR of RE in the comments below.
I thank friend JMR again for his contribution now and then.
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Sir
I am very interested in this type of image
Can I get a copy of the electronic photos of the visit, Prince Idris to the Valley Cove in bigger size
And any request for pictures I am in the service of Benghazi
Thank you very much
Comment by osama— 27/04/2010 #
These pictures are scans of old black and white photos, and being uploaded electronically into the blog post, so I don’t think they differ from the original photos that the owner (Capt. Misson’s son) emailed me. I hope this answers your question, and thank you.
Comment by Omar Gheriani— 28/04/2010 #
Dear Omar Gheriani, as you can see from the comments quite a few of my friends are interested in your site!
I have some more photos if you are interested.
Where abouts do you live? The 3 years that I spent in Libya – and my return in 2008 – are highlights of my life!
Regards Ted Jones.
Comment by Ted Jones— 31/12/2010 #
Dear Ted Jones … Thanks to you and everybody for your comments, and I’m glad of your interest in my blog.
I would appreciate any contribution from your pictures, I live in Benghazi and my email is:
abughilan@yahoo.com
Happy New Year to all.
Comment by Omar Gheriani— 31/12/2010 #
I served with the Royal Engineers in Cyrenaica in 1948/49 as a Plant Fitter and was sent to Wadi al Kuf to repair the Plant used to repair the roads etc and watched the Bailey Bridges being put in position.
I would like to point out to you that it was the Royal Engineers and not the REME.
Comment by James Robb— 22/07/2010 #
My dear James Robb, aren’t the Royal Engineers and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers the same thing? And thanks for your comment and more so for your contribution in the old bridge which served many people in Libya until the new bridge was built.
Comment by Omar Gheriani— 23/07/2010 #
Hello
Thanks for your reply but the Royal Engineers (RE) and the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME) are not the same.Just to confirm what I am saying and for your own information you should look them up on the internet.
On reading your article it has brought back to me many happy memories of the time I was in Cyrenaica.
I would like to say that I have a couple of very old Photographs of the Bridges and that I was the first to drive a vehicle over the Bridge running down the side of the Wadi,it was a Road Roller.
Thanks for the Memories. JMR
Comment by James Robb— 25/07/2010 #
Thanks JMR for the info, I’ll pass this info to my friend Jean-pierre Misson from whom I obtained these pictures, and I’m really glad to know that this post brought you happy memories. I would be very glad to add your pictures to this post in an update if you allow me – you can send them by email:
Omar Gheriani
abughilan@yahoo.com
However, if you don’t want to, I still appreciate your comments and correction. Thanks again.
Comment by Omar Gheriani— 25/07/2010 #
I have just completed a memoir of my time in Libya, serving with the RASC, in 1952. The picture of the bridge also brings back memories for me. I was stationed in Derna and, as one of the drivers on the emergency detail, we called ourselves ‘The Cyrenaica Cab Company,’had to cross the bridge several times on my way to Benghazi. I still remember the way it used to rumble from the tyres on the boards.
Best wishes, Del.
Comment by Del Southon— 08/11/2010 #
Very interested to see these pics ,I was in Libya as a small boy and remember going over this bridge with my parents to Benghazi. I seem to remember a letter J shot into the opposite cliff just before the bridge. Am I correct or is it the imagination of a 6 year old. The dad was the NAAFI area manager based in Derna.
Comment by Dick Nadin— 28/11/2010 #
Nice to hear from you, Dick. I don’t remember a J shot into the cliff, but I guess that driving along those bends before the bridge took all of my attention. I remember the NAAFI in Tobruk, which was run by two WVS ladies, but not so much about the Derna place as I was away so much. Best regards, Del.
Comment by Del Southon— 28/11/2010 #
I was the Cpl in charge of the construction of the right sir oof the bridge on the cliff face and I also done all the welding on the bridge which allowed the bridge to expand in the heat of the day. we also had a sapper watch man who lived in the cave his name was smith. wel0st a Sgt when a tipper lory went over hisside and he was Sgt. BYTNE from Cork Ireland a great pal of mine and I was in charge of the burial party in Benghazi. Has anyone got photos of his grave and the bridges 0n the cliff face there were two one a brick construction ex Sgt Paddy Vincent
Comment by Edward (Paddy) Vincent— 09/12/2010 #
Great to see old photos of the bridge through the Whadi el Kuf in Libya. I was in Derna with 77coy R A S C in 1951\2.Three of our trucks joined a R E M E convoy to Tripoli,to carry thier stores,the convoy had to stop before crossing the bridge,so the officer in charge had to cheque in at the Senussi point on the other side of bridge. I recall seeing a plate fixed to the cliffside,as to the bridge builders,which was the Royal Engieers.I well remember the long journey across the desert,and stoping at the Marble Arch for a nights camp,we saw the arch in a mirage from miles away,it looked as if surrounded by a sea of water,of course all this water disapeared the closer we got to it.The R E M E coy returned to Tripoli,and our three trucks loaded up with bundles of K D uniforms,and we returned to our camp in West Barracks Derna,stopping once more at the Marble Arch for overnight camp.Very interesting trip.So I crossed the bridge just three times in all,the last time was on way to Benghazi airport to fly home for demob. Very pleasent time in Tobruck and Derna.Del Southon has made two comments in this site,he was with us in 77 coy.Great to read your comments Del. Cheers, Dvr Jack Green.
Comment by Jack Green— 17/12/2010 #
Me – ex REME – and Ken Baker (ex RE 23 Squadron – who helped construct the bridge in 1948) went back to Libya in March 2008.
I have got many photos of the Bridge from 1948 onwards but don’t know how to download them to this site, can you help?
Like Del Southon and Jack Green, who I am in contact with, I served in Derna but I was there from Jan 1954 to Dec 1956 in 13 Armd Wksp and Station Wksp REME.
Ken Baker is still in contact with his OC and rings him up from time to time. Ken has changed his email address but I am ringing up this evening to let him know about this site.
I would be delighted to chat with anyone about the old days!!!
Regards Ted Jones.
PS. The GENTLEMEN of the Royal Engineers have always regarded themselves a bit superior to REME! To suggest that they are the same WHOOPS!!!!!
Comment by senojdet— 20/12/2010 #
When our 77coy R A S C first flew to Libya,Oct 1951,we landed in Tripoli,and stayed for two weeks,then we were flown East to Tobruck.
We took over vehicles from a previous Coy who may have gone to Korea.
We were billited in a building above the harbour,right on the cliff edge,so we had an incredible view across the bay to the desert going East. Almost every day we heard and saw landmines exploding on the desert across on the Eastern side. A huge floating crane was lifting the WW II sunken destroyed ships etc out of the bay,and the local arabs,with thier rickety old trucks were collecting all the war debri from the desert,and lineing up at the jetty side,from here it was shipped away somewhere. While in Tobruck we were always on standby because of the Suez Canal troubles at that time. Our short stay in Tobruck was about three weeks only,then the Coy moved West to Derna,and we were stationed in West Barracks,these were the last buildings on the Western side of Derna. At times it seemed as though we were all on some marvellous holiday,with the swimming and sunbathing every day,and exploreing the area. In all we had a very pleasant time in Libya. A new cookhouse was built in the camp,and it was opened for Xmas day 1951. Soldiers of the Devonshire regiment,and Highland light infantry came in to celebrate with us for the opening.
Come August 1952,I was going home for demob,with other members of our Coy. We all had done our two year National Service. Good time. Jack.
Comment by Jack Green.— 21/12/2010 #
I arrived at Tobruk in September 1951, aged 12, on a corvette from Malta and was bussed to Benghazi crossing the bridge en route. I later crossed and recrossed the bridge on separate visits to Apollonia, Cyrene, Tobruk and Ras el Hilal. Many memories of a great childhood in Libya 1951-1955.
Comment by Mick Kiernan— 23/12/2010 #
Mick
I read your comments on the TACA site. I was in Benghazi 1958-61 and remember the Bridge pictured here but the thing that really got me was the submarine pend at Ras El Hilal, great fun but very eerie.
Comment by Jim McCabe— 22/07/2011 #
i landed at tobruk in 1950 from the empire peacemaker a corvette,
aspart of the advance party 16/5 lancers and crossed the bridge many
times i used to hate the way it rattled,glad to see it has been upgraded.
bob millar
Comment by bob millar— 08/02/2011 #
Welcome, Bob. For some reason I seem to remember the 16/5 Lancers being in Libya when I was there, 1951/2. Where about were you based, and when did you leave? Best regards, Del.
Comment by Del Southon— 09/02/2011 #
Hi Del,
My father was a civvy in Benghazi 51-55 and the 16th5th were around at that time I recall.
He used to refer to them, jokingly, as the 16th zift. Arabic for rubbish/dirty.
Sad to see what’s happening there now……………
Mick………….
Comment by Mick Kiernan— 26/06/2011 #
Hi all,
I am told my grandad (who is now sadly no longer with us) served in Tripoli with the REME for 3 years around the same time. I am looking to find out any information about him / his regiment and wonder whether anybody here knows of him? His name was Bryan William Mottershead born in 1930 in Cheshire.
Any help on finding out any info is greatly appreciated!
Comment by Ben Mottershead— 24/02/2011 #
My Dad used to drink with the 16/5 Lancers and jokingly called them the Sixteenth Zift……….Arabic translation anybody?
Comment by Mick Kiernan— 26/02/2011 #
I don’t know about Arabic translation, Mick, are you sure that he didn’t say ‘Fift,’ which is the way a lot of Londoners would have pronounced ‘Fifth.? Best regards, Del.
Comment by Del Southon— 26/02/2011 #
Hi, as I recall, Zift, was ‘Useless’/'Rubbish’/'Finished’, something akin to German ‘Kaput’ but although I do remember the word it is so long ago that I wouldn’t argue with a different translation!
Comment by Ted Jones— 27/02/2011 #
I am doing a project on the military camp Wavell Barracks Benghazi from when it was occupied
or built and would like to know which regiments were there probably in the early 1940-1950s.
If there are anybody that can help me name those British regiments that were there. I would be very greatful.
you can email me John.
whitewatercascaiding@yahoo.com.au
Comment by John— 08/06/2011 #
Only thing I remember is that the BMH was there
Comment by Mick Kiernan— 26/06/2011 #
Thanks Mick you were correct it was known as BMH in earlier years but when was it known as Wavell Bks. anybody that served at that camp can they give me their regiment. I have all thoses that were there from 1958-1967. does anybody know when the camp was closed and were they there at that time. I still need when the camp was opened I assume sometime in 1948. can somone fill in the gaps after that up to 1957.
I was at that camp when my father was posted there with the 14th/20th Kings Hussars in 1962-1966
John
Comment by John Podesta— 27/07/2011 #
to ex-sargeant Paddy Vincent
to get a photo of your old mate’s grave. type or scroll down to Libya and then his name and regiment and or just army in Google on the site called The war Graves Photograpic project and you can print his grave off or you can order a proper photo of it.
Good luck
John.
Comment by John— 28/10/2011 #