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Trench Map / Somme / British trench names and numbers


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Posted

I'm following various 37th Division diaries through the year. I'm seeing quite a lot of detail of actual trench names and trench numbers in the diaries (10th Royal Fusiliers, 6th Bedfords, 11th Warwickshire are particularly detailed in places).

On the trench maps I've found online (McMaster) British blue trench info is very limited as compared to German red trenches. I understand this was a security requirement at the time.

Can anyone point me in the direction of trench maps that show the actual names and numbers of the British trenches?

Some of the references I have seen..

Collingbourne Ave.

Naked St

Narboro Road

T68

T59

T65

93

95

As always, many thanks

Chris

Posted

It's usually a case of trying all the McMaster Maps for that area until you find some that ID the trench numbers.

This is another option from NLS

Have you tried trawling the Infantry Brigade diaires for maps?? And Division, Artillery, Medical etc

110, 111 and 112 Infantry Brigades.

Time consuming and/or expensive I know but always possible that if 37th Division were relieved by Xth Division then X division may have maps in their diaries. Ditto for battalions.

TEW

Posted

Rat's Alley has these map references:-

Collingbourne Avenue. Sheet 57dNE1&2 Fonquevillers, Map references E10d, 16b, 17a

Naked St. Sheet 51cSE3&4 Ransart / 57dNE1&2 Fonquev's, Map references W27c, d, 28c, d, E3a

Narboro Road listed as Narborough Road (Boyau des Houris), Sheet 51cSE3&4 Ransart, Map references W17c, d [?]

Once you get the right maps, the others may show easily.

Howard

Posted

According to the NA British Trench Map Atlas DVD.....

Collingbourne Ave 57dNE1&2 E10d,16b,17a.

Naked Street 51cSE3 W27c&d,28c&d,E3a

Narborough Road 51cSE3&4 W17c&d

T68 62dNE2F17a

T59 62cNW1A17-23

T65 62dNE2 F square

93 62dNE2F2b,3a

95 62dNE2F2b,3a

Eddie

Posted

These might start you off but you did not give dates.

Howard

Collingbourne Avenue. Sheet 57dNE1&2 Fonquevillers, Map references E10d, 16b, 17a

post-991-0-35296800-1463585091_thumb.jpg

Naked St. Sheet 51cSE3&4 Ransart / 57dNE1&2 Fonquev's, Map references W27c, d, 28c, d, E3a

post-991-0-10263500-1463585197_thumb.jpg

Posted

Narboro Road listed as Narborough Road (Boyau des Houris),

Part of Sheet 51cSE3&4 Ransart, Map references W17c, d [?] showing the right place but Narborough Road not showing. I looked at several other maps, it does not show on those either.

Howard

post-991-0-66131300-1463585506_thumb.jpg

Posted

There is also map of Farnborough Road named at 51cSE3&4 Ransart 3A(S) W17c&d 19.9.1916 NA Trench Map DVD

Eddie

Posted

Thanks so much for your help everyone...

Howard are your maps from McMaster?

Posted

I can see lots of the trench numbers in 10 Loyal North Lancs diary for early March 1916. Fonquevilliers, T58 to T66, T64 to T67, T50 to T63. And that the left sector of their front was T63 to T66 plus they had a battle post at E.9.a.5.1.

Ancestry diaries keyword = 2538

date= March 1916

Page 60/262

Not having much joy in finding a map or tieing in where the left sector might be map ref wise.

Also noted that T58 had formerly been T50 before the front was extended, so numbers are a bit fluid.

10 Royal Fusiliers held T50 to T55 in Dec 1916 and that a sniper crawled out from T53.

TEW

Posted

The last page of the 112 Inf. Bde. Diary for Feb 1916 describes the brigade front as T58 to T77 but adds grid refs for those points. E.22.b.15.55 to E.5.c.3.7

Within the 112 Bde. front, there are 2 battalion fronts:

RIght Bn. 10 Loyal N Lancs 58-65

Left Bn. 11 Warwicks 66-77

110 Bde. Is on the left and 143 Bde. On the right

TEW

Posted

TEW, thank you for this. I have seen those references.

My initial post was really to determine if there was, or has been collated, a map compilation. Not from the era, but compiled since with accurate trench names and numbers.

BTW the 10th RF diary is excellent and very spirited, especially May 1916. Reactions to Dublin, compulsory service bill, posh shirkers etc. C/O must have been quite a character.

Posted

Thanks so much for your help everyone...

Howard are your maps from McMaster?

PM sent.

Howard

  • 8 years later...
Posted

Narborough Road can be seen on the attached photo from the 1960s taken from the book by  L L Read "Of those we loved"

 

 

Screenshot 2024-10-09 124606.png

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