Description
Object description
Photograph album containing affixed and loose prints depicting the service of Second Lieutenant Michael Mackie in a Port Construction and Repair Company, Royal Engineers during the Second World War.
In addition to the photographs covering family and school life, the principal coverage of the album is Mackie's service life, from the beginning of his Army career to the immediate post-war period. Particular subjects covered:
Early days: 'Sapper' Mackie, a near full length portrait of Mackie upon first enlistment and scenes on a pre OCTU course at the University of Birmingham and at an Officer Cadet Training Unit, undertaking bridging exercises.
European Service: Members, individual and group portrait, of No. 2 Section, 963rd Port Construction and Repair Company, Royal Engineers; Images taken during progression through Europe including damage to the quay and swing bridge in Dieppe harbour after the Commando raid of 1943, (photograph taken in 1944) and similarly the remains of the Pont Lavoinne after demolision by the Germans. There are a detailed series of record shots of the bridging of the Rhine with the construction of a very large bridge, probably Dempsey Bridge at Xanten. Also repaired lock gates at Terneusen and destroyed and repaired bridges at Celle and Hannover.
After VJ Day the return to England and the building of the Coxhaven-Hull Quay for troops arriving on BAOR leave, followed by a Middle East posting at 402 Stores Depot at Ein Shams, Egypt. Views of the storage areas of the depot at Ein Shams, a crashed train and tender after accident, also a toppled crane, Royal Engineers constructed bridges across the Nile, views of Heliopolis. The new location of 402 Stores depot after a move to the Suez Canal Zone including an inspection by Brigadier J S Payne; scenes setting up the new depot and scenes at Christmas 1945.
Physical description
Cardboard photograph album (green) 284mm x 196mm, secured with drawstring (green), encompassing paper leaves (brown). Rural scene embossed on the front cover in brown with 'Photographs' and 'British Made' also embossed. 'Michael' handwritten in black ink also on the front of the album. Each leaf has prints mounted both sides, mostly annotated in white or black ink.