Formed in Melbourne in 1915, the RAN Bridging Train was comprised of skilled Australian naval reservists. Tasked with constructing and maintaining vital pontoon bridges and wharfs, their work at Suvla Bay enabled the delivery of supplies, ammunition, and medical aid, overcoming harsh terrain and enemy resistance. Their ingenuity included innovative water distribution systems using repurposed fire hoses and pumps from warships, ensuring safer and more efficient supply routes under fire.
The RAN Bridging Train’s crowning achievement came during the Allied evacuation of Suvla Bay in December 1915. Building prefabricated wharfs and piers under the watchful eyes of Turkish forces, they enabled the secret withdrawal of more than 100,000 troops and 300 guns widely regarded as the most successful aspect of the Gallipoli campaign.
This compelling exhibition, originally created by Geoff Barnes and Stephen Gapps for the Australian National Maritime Museum, has now been donated to Seaworks. The transition was made possible by the generosity of the Museum and the support of the Cumberland RSL Sub-Branch and the Naval Historical Society of Australia.
Visitors to Seaworks can immerse themselves in the RAN Bridging Train’s story, discovering the innovation, bravery, and determination that shaped a significant chapter in Australia’s naval history.
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