Map query

[DCLI]

See here a section of trench map from Memory Map, apologies for its use on this forum if I have contravened any copyright.

I would like to know what Magazines means.

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

A Magazine is a storehouse, especially a military store, or, onboard a ship, the powder room.

I've never before seen anything labelled "magazine" in a trench map, and cant think why someone would want to highlight them if they were their own.

The ones on your map are remarkably close together, but maybe they were underground and reinforced ?

Tom

[mick1234]

Maybe their position has something to do with their close proximity with the railway line.

Mick

[tootrock]

These are shown on the McMaster map for Beaurains in 1916, and are well behind the German lines.

They are not shown on later maps.

Martin

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

These are shown on the McMaster map for Beaurains in 1916, and are well behind the German lines.

They are not shown on later maps.

Martin

1916 - ok. And there is a railway spur going into the "complex" at the extreme western corner. I'd stick with some kind of storage facility, but I somehow doubt it could be artillery ammunition as too many of the "stores" are away from the railway line, and maybe too close together. - General storage ?

Tom

[janecavell]

The OED has the military sense of the word magazine, i.e. 'A building, room, or compartment (of a ship, etc.), for the storage of arms, ammunition, or other military provisions', or specifically a 'store for large quantities of explosives'. Among the examples of usage of the word given in that dictionary, is a nineteenth century reference to 'one of those magazines destined for the army, filled with grain and with articles of clothing' (this perhaps suggests a mobile store?).

There's also a more general sense (now rare, according to OED): 'A place where goods are kept in store; a storehouse for goods or merchandise; a warehouse or depot.' The word comes from the same root as the French magasin, a shop or warehouse.

[DCLI]

Thank you everyone. I knew what a magzine was, but I was confused the sheer number and location of the ones on the map - which incidentally is dated 4th March 1917. I suppose it could be a supply depot looking at all the railway lines, there is no railway at all there now, just a derelict station.