Researching WWI family history.

[Dianaa]

Currently I am reading the unit diaries of my grandfather's engineers unit in WWI. As part of this am trying to align fragments of oral history and events to entries in the diaries.

One problem I have come across is that many of the entries relate to grid square references on maps.

What I am wondering/presuming is that the maps were coded so that the grid numbering were only relevant for particular time periods and that at different dates during the war the same location would have different grid references. Is this correct?

Does anyone know if there is a source for British/Allied war maps, particularly for the period from the Kaiserschlacht around March 1918 through the Battle of Amiens to the Armistice in November 1918?

Diana

[Dianaa]

Just to clarify I am not talking about regular grid references based upon Latitude and Longitude, but an alternative based upon an alpha-numeric coding on the maps. e.g.the map attached to my original post is the 3 Aust Div, 9th Bde area of control in July 1918, during preparations for the Allied attack which became the Battle of Amiens.

The map clearly shows large squares designated with a letter and then a series of smaller squares numbered 1 through 36. In the unit diary, the grid references are further reduced to a secondary alpha numeric code. You will see a trench in grid square J 35, If I am correct this is described as J.35.B.18.82 in the diary.

Anyone know if maps still exist for the entire front?

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Dianaa

What I am wondering/presuming is that the maps were coded so that the grid numbering were only relevant for particular time periods and that at different dates during the war the same location would have different grid references. Is this correct?
Diana

No. These did not change.
You may wish to post on http://www.network54.com/Forum/28173/ (Canadiansoldiers) as the question was asked and answered a few years ago there and there are some experts who could assist. Also At http://cefresearch.ca/phpBB3/ (CEF Study Group).

Clive

[Dianaa]

Thanks Clive, I will most certainly check those sources out.

Now I know that the grid references didn't change, I may be able to compile limited information from maps included in the diarys for various months and other units.

The incident I'm trying to identify at present relates to a pontoon bridge, possibly over the Somme canal, during the German 1918 spring offensive.

Diana

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Dianaa

Does anyone know if there is a source for British/Allied war maps, particularly for the period from the Kaiserschlacht around March 1918 through the Battle of Amiens to the Armistice in November 1918?

Don't know of any official source Diana but have you tried ebay yet? This seller seems to have a good range of trench maps, including several for the period of interest:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/MAPS-AND-PO...4.l1581&_pgn=1

There are also a few map collections on CD/DVD, eg:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2307809619...84.m1438.l2648

You may need a quick course in WO map reading, in which case this publication may be of interest (it's 1929 issue but I doubt there'd be much change since WW1):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1308251867...84.m1438.l2648


Anyway best of luck with your research Diana.

[Dianaa]

Tony

Thank you for drawing my attention to these maps. These are exactly the type of maps I'm interested in and even the information about the order of grid squares on the ebay ad explains some of the information I was lacking.

Diana

[klambie]

Might try the collection at McMaster University in Hamilton.

http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/ww1/home.htm

[Dianaa]

Originally Posted by klambie

Might try the collection at McMaster University in Hamilton.

http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/ww1/home.htm

Kevin

Amazing help!

Mcmaster University has a page dedicated to the map references. http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/ww1/MapRefNo.htm

Originally Posted by Dianaa

..... In the unit diary, the grid references are further reduced to a secondary alpha numeric code. You will see a trench in grid square J 35, If I am correct this is described as J.35.B.18.82 in the diary. ...

The only remaining issue is that the McMaster references describe the last two single digits representing tenths up and across the grid square where the 19 Fld Coy RAE diary describes paired digits which I can only assume to be hundreths of the square required for the more accurate needs of the engineers.

Diana

[klambie]

You are correct, the extra digits just further subdivide the square. In WW II mapping, it's not uncommon to see three levels of subdivision, so similar for WW I would be expected.

Note that the last pair of numbers (whether single digit or two digit or more) technically define the bottom left corner of a square, not a point. Thus the object/place they are assigning coordinates to are somewhere inside that square. More digits just define a smaller square. Practically, if you ever found 3 digit numbers, that would be a small enough square to be treated like a point.