2nd Suffolk October 1918 - Map references

[Guest andymking]

Hello.

This is my first post.

I am tracing the history of my 2xgreat uncle, Bert John ROBINSON of the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He died on October 8th 1918 and is buried at Naves.

I have a copy of the Battalion's War Diary which includes a report on the operations carried out by the Battalion on the day he died.

It describes what their movements were, and includes map references - e.g.

"The objective ... was the road from

H.21.c.80.80

to LA TARGETTE ... included the capture of SERANVILLERS" and

"By 2.15am the Battalion was assembled on taped lines in

G.22.d

X. Co on the right, Z.Co in the centre..."

Please can anyone explain the map references for me, and ideally point to where I can get a copy of the relevant maps?

I hope to visit the area this summer, and would love to see where he was and where he fell.

Also - is there any way of telling which company he would have been in - W, X, Y or Z?

Many thanks,

Andy

[martinb]

Hello.

This is my first post.

I am tracing the history of my 2xgreat uncle, Bert John ROBINSON of the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He died on October 8th 1918 and is buried at Naves.

I have a copy of the Battalion's War Diary which includes a report on the operations carried out by the Battalion on the day he died.

It describes what their movements were, and includes map references - e.g.

"The objective ... was the road from

H.21.c.80.80

to LA TARGETTE ... included the capture of SERANVILLERS" and

"By 2.15am the Battalion was assembled on taped lines in

G.22.d

X. Co on the right, Z.Co in the centre..."

Please can anyone explain the map references for me, and ideally point to where I can get a copy of the relevant maps?

I hope to visit the area this summer, and would love to see where he was and where he fell.

Also - is there any way of telling which company he would have been in - W, X, Y or Z?

Many thanks,

Andy

Don't know if this helps

From The History of The Suffolk Regiment

2^nd Battalion.

During the night of 5^th – 6^th October the battalion came out of line to Masnieres and the following afternoon was attached to the 9^th Brigade for the attack on Seranvillers on October 8^th.

The 2^nd Suffolk Regiment and another battalion who were in support were to pass through the attacking battalions on the Red Line and too capture The Green Line.The objective of the 2^nd Battalion was the village od Seranvillers and the road to Le Targette. The attack commenced at 4.30am, the Red Line being captured without much resistance. The battalion then advanced to the Green Line and gained all it’s objectives in time except La Targette itself. At dusk the fire died down and the enemy evacuated La Tagette leaving a few machine guns behind them.The casualties amounted to 135 including the following officers.

Wounded Lieuts. JMV Percy, NE Cooper, HV Raven, FDV Thursby,& 2^nd Lieut TR Pidcock

[stephen p nunn]

Hello.

This is my first post.

I am tracing the history of my 2xgreat uncle, Bert John ROBINSON of the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He died on October 8th 1918 and is buried at Naves.

I have a copy of the Battalion's War Diary which includes a report on the operations carried out by the Battalion on the day he died.

It describes what their movements were, and includes map references - e.g.

"The objective ... was the road from

H.21.c.80.80

to LA TARGETTE ... included the capture of SERANVILLERS" and

"By 2.15am the Battalion was assembled on taped lines in

G.22.d

X. Co on the right, Z.Co in the centre..."

Please can anyone explain the map references for me, and ideally point to where I can get a copy of the relevant maps?

I hope to visit the area this summer, and would love to see where he was and where he fell.

Also - is there any way of telling which company he would have been in - W, X, Y or Z?

Many thanks,

Andy

Assume you have visited the Suffolks museum at Bury? Only small but I really like it.

Best regards.

SPN

Maldon

[JimSmithson]

Welcome to the Forum Andy. The following couple of trench map extracts, courtesy of Linesman, might help you with the mpa references.

This first one shows the H in the top left corner, this is map 57BNW3, 57B covers a large area of France and each letter corresponds to an area of that series. H21 means square 21 in the section H. You can see that square on the map.

The next map shows the square more closely and a flag marks the spot c.80.80. Each square is in 4 quadrants a (top left), b(top right), c(bottom left) and d(bottom right). 80.80 is basically 8 tenths from the left and 8 tenths up as in normal coordinates.

Clear as mud?!!

Hope that helps

Jim

[JimSmithson]

Just reread your post and see that you also need a wider shot of the map.

See if you can use your new skills! G.22.d describes a quadrant and not a point.

The map is late 1917, I don't have any later ones but you will get a good idea of the area mentioned from here

Jim

[Guest andymking]

Just reread your post and see that you also need a wider shot of the map.

See if you can use your new skills! G.22.d describes a quadrant and not a point.

The map is late 1917, I don't have any later ones but you will get a good idea of the area mentioned from here

Jim

Hi Jim,

This is absolutely fantastic. Many thanks!

I now understand the scheme.

Also, useful to see that La Targette is not the same one as the military cemetery with that name north of Arras.

You've made my day!

Andy

Assume you have visited the Suffolks museum at Bury? Only small but I really like it.

Best regards.

SPN

Maldon

Thanks for the suggestion - no, I haven't visited. Will have to try and go.

Andy

[JimSmithson]

The La Targette name threw me for a while as well as the references just did not add up to it being anywhere near the one north of Arras.

Glad the maps helped.

Jim

[Retired Dave]

Hello everyone - This is an old OP, and I don't know if andymking still views here.

My grandfather Herbert Covill was also KIA this same day (8th October 1918) in the same area. He was infantry supporting tanks and they went over the top at Seranvillers. At some point the German's counter-attacked (using captured British tanks) and my grandfather was killed at that point. I have a Red Cross report to my grandmother to that effect, quoting a soldier in the same trench who was last to see him.

Herbert was buried in the cemetery at La Targette but moved to the small cemetery at Forenville in the centre of the image

I am attaching the trench map which is for the exact day (08/10/1918).

[sotonmate]

RDave

If you click on the name to the left of the post you can see when they were here last !