21st November in wartime Northern Ireland

On 21st November 1942, sappers of 61st Divisional Engineers carried out work on a new road, which meandered through the hilly countryside in Co. Londonderry.

Featured image for The Sperrin Mountains, Co. Londonderry during the Second World War

The Sperrin Mountains, Co. Londonderry during the Second World War

Co. Londonderry

During the Second World War, the Sperrin Mountains, Co. Londonderry were a hive of activity. They served as a training ground as well as a hazard for aircraft.

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. The first cut of the new road. — ©IWM H 25603 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers at work on the bluff. — ©IWM H 25604 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers at work on the bluff. — ©IWM H 25605 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers at work on the mountainside. — ©IWM H 25606 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers at work on the mountainside. — ©IWM H 25607 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A general view of the winding road. — ©IWM H 25608 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers at work. — ©IWM H 25609 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers at work cutting through bush bog. — ©IWM H 25610 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers stack peat by the roadside to drain. — ©IWM H 25611 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Part 1 of 2 of a panorama of the winding road. — ©IWM H 25612 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Part 2 of 2 of a panorama of the winding road. — ©IWM H 25613 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A section of the new road under construction. — ©IWM H 25614 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Sappers blast away part of the mountainside during construction. — ©IWM H 25615 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Commencement of the mountain road. — ©IWM H 25621 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A soldier travels across a section of the new road by motorcycle. — ©IWM H 25622 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers handling stones from the stream bed. — ©IWM H 25623 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers handling stones from the stream bed. — ©IWM H 25624 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers positioning boulders along the roadside. — ©IWM H 25625 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers excavating a sump and laying foundations of the new road. — ©IWM H 25626 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers excavating a sump and laying foundations of the new road. — ©IWM H 25627 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers at work on a section of the new road. — ©IWM H 25628 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers use stones and boulders to lay foundations of the new road. — ©IWM H 25629 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers dig a drainage ditch using shovels and pick-axes. — ©IWM H 25630 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers handling stones from the stream bed. — ©IWM H 25631 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A soldier crosses a track bridge with a barrow full of loose earth. — ©IWM H 25632 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers working at the head of the road. — ©IWM H 25633 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers working on the construction of the new road as far as the eye can see. — ©IWM H 25634 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers digging drainage channels during the construction. — ©IWM H 25635 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers digging drainage channels during the construction. — ©IWM H 25636 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Soldiers digging drainage channels during the construction. — ©IWM H 25637 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A completed section of the new road. — ©IWM H 25638 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A completed section of the new road. — ©IWM H 25639 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A completed section of the new road. — ©IWM H 25640 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A completed section of the new road. — ©IWM H 25641 Info

Members of 297, 582, 583, and 584 Companies, Kent Corps Troops, Royal Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains and Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. A completed section of the new road crosses a mountain stream. — ©IWM H 25642 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Part 1 of 5 of a panorama of the winding road. — ©IWM H 25616 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Part 2 of 5 of a panorama of the winding road. — ©IWM H 25617 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Part 4 of 5 of a panorama of the winding road. — ©IWM H 25619 Info

Members of the 61st Divisional Engineers cutting a new road through the Sperrin Mountains at Templemoyle, south of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. Part 5 of 5 of a panorama of the winding road. — ©IWM H 25620 Info