Allied Map References

[MikeW]

Can anyone educate me with regard to the map references used by allied pilots durring WW1?

I am currently stumped on R. 29 d 6.0. That's exactly how it appears in the squadron record book.

Which maps should I purchase to follow these references up?



Mike

[Frank_Olynyk]

Mike,
That is an incomplete map reference. It has to be preceeded by a Sheet number. If you have, or can get, the Trench Map Archive CD produced by the IWM and the Military and Naval Press, you will have about 175 different maps. Then you should be able to figure out which trench map is relevant, based on the location of the squadron, and the date. New editions of trench maps were produced over time.

Frank.

[MikeW]

Thanks Frank,

I have been saving the pennies towards the Military & Naval Press trench map CD.

So, if I can figure out the sheet (which shouldn't be too difficult) the "R" and the "d" are simply horizontal and vertical axes (or vice versa)?


mike

[Shredward]

Hi Mike,
I've got a few trench maps (Vimy, Beaumont-Hamel, Passchendaele - I'm a Canuck eh ) and they seem to work on a grid system , albeit not the same as the one we use now, with six figure grid references. Looks like each large square - in this case, "R" is divided into a six by six grid, giving squares 1 through 36, starting in the top left-hand corner, working across, starting next row at the left hand side again, and so on. So, 29 is the grid square second row from the bottom, second in from the right hand side. Each of those grid squares is divided into four: top left "a", top right "b", bottom left "c", bottom right "d". From here, the 6.0 is a normal easting/northing ie starting in the bottom left-hand corner, six units (of ten) in, and 0 units up.
hope this helps,
shredward