3-021-703 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Volunteer Review at Windsor: volunteers crossing the pontoon bridge over the Thames at Datchet, 1868. 'The object [of the construction of the pontoon-bridge by a detachment of Royal Engineers from Aldershott]...was to enable about one third of the volunteer regiments to reach their place of rendezvous by the shortest route, and to lessen the confusion incident to the progress of many thousand men through Windsor. At eleven o'clock her Majesty, with Princesses Louisa and Beatrice, reached Datchet in an open carriage, and immediately afterwards the construction of the bridge was begun. So rapidly was the work accomplished that a bridge 218 ft. in length was placed across the Thames in twenty-eight minutes, and at noon was crossed by the 2nd Essex Administrative Battalion...In the presence of her Majesty this corps marched across the first pontoon-bridge ever placed across the Thames for the passage of volunteers. When they reached the Windsor side of the river the men gave a cheer for the Queen, which was heartily joined in by the spectators...The bridge was marched across in formation of fours, and, notwithstanding the immense weight which it had to bear, very little oscillation was observable'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.