New maps for the British Army in areas of France where they were holding the Front Line north of Arras during 1915 began to be produced at a scale of 1:20,000 from the new survey work. The new larger scale Trench Maps were drawn at a scale of 1:10,000.
What happened in 1915 on the Western Front?
During 1915, the British and French undertook a series of unsuccessful attacks against the Germans on the Western Front. Apart from their one offensive at Ypres in April, the Germans spent most of the year on the defensive. But for both sides it was a tough learning experience.
Why were WWI maps made on the Western Front?
The war of movement turned into a war of attrition and a state of trench warfare existed on what became known as The Western Front by the turn of the year. This resulted in a new requirement to produce larger scale maps for use by the units located in this static situation on the ground.
What were the early trench battles of WW1?
1915: Early trench battles 1 Winter. By the end of 1914, the Allies and the Germans had established themselves in a line of trenches running from the Channel to the French-Swiss border. 2 Neuve Chapelle. 3 Gas at Ypres. 4 Aubers Ridge. 5 Festubert. 6 Loos. 7 Lessons.
Who made the maps in WW1?
Nationality: most of the maps were produced by the British Ordnance Survey for the Allied forces, although a few German, French and other maps purchased privately by officers exist within the collection. Map Scale: they range in scale from very detailed operations maps used for trench raids to very broad overview maps used to show the entire front.
Why are there no French names on the trench maps?
Many of the names of farms, woods, villages and so on which feature on the military Trench Maps for France and Belgium are in English. One reason is that the French names were unusual and some were especially difficult for the British soldiers to pronounce when they arrived in France and Belgium.
How do you date trench lines on a trench map?
The date of the overprinted trench lines and positions on a Trench Map can usually be attributed to the text at the top of the map which states: “Trenches Corrected to …”. The image shows a typical key for a Trench Map.
