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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

recommended maps for touring wipers


paul swann

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I am looking forward to visiting Wipers for the ninth or tenth time in mid May this year.

I've always read first hand accounts before traveling & when there walk there steps.

My main referance documents while in the field have been M&M Holts map + guide of the area & Rose Combes bible.

Can the forum reccommend any other maps that would be of use.

I seem to remember reading a thread a couple of months ago that mentioned a new map available from the In Flanders Field museum?

Thank you in advance

Paul.

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Paul,

As the maps in the Holts books are diagramatic only, they can be a bit confusing when relying on them in isolation. I would recommend obtaining the relevant 1/10000 or 1/25000 maps covering the areas of interest, that way you can use both, using the accuracy of the maps over the Holts information.

Mick

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....

I seem to remember reading a thread a couple of months ago that mentioned a new map available from the In Flanders Field museum?

Thank you in advance

Paul.

I think you mean this map, Paul: http://www.mapservice.be/frontkaart_14-18/ .

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There used to be a little green book which came with a map called 'Ieper en de Frontstreek', which personally I found invaluable in visiting the battlefields long before Holts maps, NGI maps and local maps were available. The little book is also packed with info.

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Dear All,

Thank you for your prompt replies.

I'll spend my free time over the next few days tracking these gems down.

Best wishes

Paul.

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Paul,

I have a set of 1:20 000 Belgian IGN maps covering the Ypres Salient area. I bought them from the The Mapshop, Upton on Severn, web www.themapshop.co.uk Recommend you enquire there. Very speedy mail order service, and reasonable prices.

Regards,

Eric

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If you go to te webiste "Tommies Guides" he sells the Belgian equivilent to our OS maps, these are the maps that I'm basing my holiday in the summer in conjunction with Rosemary Coombs, Holts and the Walking the Salient.

Nick

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Paul,

I also have a set of the IGN maps which are great, being a bit sad I 'love my maps' so prior to a trip I always photocopy them and selotape them together, this way you can over write them with trenchlines/points of interest, plus it doesn't matter how many times you fold them or even if they get wet.

If you invest in a set look at the area around Messines and it is interesting to see the craters left after the attack in 1917 clearly marked in blue as they are now full of water! Some of these without the aid of a map you can drive right past them and not even know they are there!

have a great trip!

Regards,

Scottie.

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I got a set of the Belgian IGN 1:10000 (ten thousand) for the Salient area down to the French frontier some years ago - very useful indeed.

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Scottie

That's exactly how we intend to use oour maps, don't think i can afford the hundred quid for the beligian maps on linesman, we'll also take copies of some of the panorama's from Peter Barton.

One of our planned walks is all the way along the messines ridge to see the craters

Nick

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Dear All,

Again thank you for your speedy replies,

The ING maps will go on my shopping list, but what size is best,10000 or 20000?

Kind regards

Paul.

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Paul,

the IGN I have are the 1cm-200m (1:20 000) i purchased four maps several years ago for my trips to the Salient and they are very useful and I feel they are more than adequate for walking, they are;

Section 28, in four seperate parts/maps!

1 & 2 (Poperinge - Leper)

3 & 4 (Zonnebeke - Moorslede)

5 & 6 (Heuvelland - Messines)

7 & 8 (Comines-Menen)

Nick,

glad to see I am not the only 'cheapskate' on the Forum! :D

I find it really useful to copy them and write relevant bits/trench lines etc. Have a great trip along the Ridge and its craters, don't forget to do a 'Tour report' on the Forum for us!

Regards and best wishes,

Scottie,

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Seeing these modern day references to "28", is it correct to assume that the modern index numbers match the trench map index numbers (28 also being in the Ypres area). If so, will the projections be the same, so that one can scan and overlay?

David

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Scottie

I fully intend to do a tour report hopefully with pics (If i can work out how to do tha

I got 5 maps for the price of 4, from Tommies Guides but I can remember neither the scale or the map numbers as I travelling companion has them at the moment

Nick

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Nick,

I look forward to your report, sounds like a good deal on the maps.

David,

good point!

Sadly I do not know the anawer but hopefully some kind Pal out there will know!

Cheers,

Scottie.

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Seeing these modern day references to "28", is it correct to assume that the modern index numbers match the trench map index numbers (28 also being in the Ypres area). If so, will the projections be the same, so that one can scan and overlay?

David

David,

Having recently worked on LinesMan Belgian sheets, I think you will find that despite similar sheet numberings, they have been re-projected from the original Bonne projection, as per the trench maps.

The Modern NGI Maps are now:

Projection: Lambert72

Ellipsoid: International (Hayford24)

Similar, though different again from the IGN for France.

So the answer to your question is No.

Guy

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I just received my copy of the The Western Front Assoc and IWM Mapping the Front dvds for the Ypres Salient. Right now all I can say is wow. It's a little overwhelming trying to sort through all of the maps, especially focusing on specific areas I want to visit (BTW I'll be there in mid-May also staying at Varlet Farm). On top of the maps there are hundreds of aerial photos that add a totally new perspective for me. I have been using my PS3 to view them meaning that I am watching them on a 45" HDTV with the ability to zoom in 200%. I swear I saw someone waving.

I had to join the WFA and then the dvds were only $50 or something.

Jon

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Jon - novel way to view them! I bet the developers never considered anyone seeing them on a PS3 with a screen that size! Makes my new 22" screen look like a postage stamp!

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