Utilizing Trench Maps: Part 2 – Map References & Case Studies

This is the second of two articles on using trench maps in your research. Part 1 provided an overview of digitized trench map resources. This article includes tips on finding and interpreting map references as well as providing several research case studies.

Finding Map References
References to map coordinates can be found in wide range of research documents including War Diaries and soldier Casualty Forms. The example in Figure 1 is from the 2nd Canadian Tunnelling Company War Diary for June 1916 and shows that the unit was at work on a variety of defences including “shallow defensive galleries and listening posts in front of trenches H8 & H9 (28I 30c)“.

Figure 1: 2nd Cdn Tunnelling Coy War Diary for June 1916 (Source: Library and Archives Canada)

Although less common a soldier’s Casualty Form might also include a map reference. Frederick Clifford John of the 7th Battalion CEF…