Major Cloutman, after reconnoitering the river crossings, found the Quartes Bridge almost intact but prepared for demolition. Leaving his party under cover he went forward alone, swam across the river and having cut the ‘leads’ from the charges returned the same way, despite the fact that the bridge and all the approaches were swept by enemy shells and machinegun fire. Although the bridge was blown up later in the day by other means, the abutments remained intact