Trench map 1/4 East Yorkshire Regiment Ypres 31.10.17

[Dazscuba]

Does anybody know where I may find a battle map from the 3rd Battle of Ypres from the 31st Oct 1917 that the 1st/4th Batt, East Yorks Reg may have had/held?

thanks

Edited 1 December , 2017 by Dazscuba

[kenf48]

This is the map in the 150th Brigade war diary referred to in the 1/4 war diary which has map references for the various Companies  I think this refers to a couple of days before .  You should be able to get a better, bigger copy from the National Library of Scotland collection. It looks like their positions matched those of the 5th NF shown on this map

Edited 1 December , 2017 by kenf48

[Dazscuba]

That’s great thanks but where do you get these from and how do I get into the Nat Library of Scotland to download them? 

[robertb]

Try this:

http://digital.nls.uk/great-war/resources/trench-maps.html

 

[kenf48]

5 hours ago, Dazscuba said:

That’s great thanks but where do you get these from and how do I get into the Nat Library of Scotland to download them? 

 

Apologies SWMBO was dragging me out the door.

 

The map posted above, which is the one referenced in the 1/4th war diary is in the 149th Brigade war diary and shows the disposition of the Northumberland Fusiliers on the 24th October, at the beginning of the Division's advance. On that date the 4th Yorks were Divisional Reserve, being brought into the line as detailed below later in the week.

 

The war diary of the 1/4 East Yorkshire Regiment has an operation order for the 29th October referencing the map above in 1/10000 scale.  The infantry used both 1/10000 and 1/20000 scale maps.  

 

The 150th Brigade diary refers to this as a 'minor operation' and the 4th Was Yorks took the lead, it looks like one of those 'straightening' exercises.  The 150th Brigade diary has a fragment of the above map showing the exact movement expected by the 4th Bn from the red line to the blue line.

 

 

The Operation order shows D company (Coy) was in the front line at V. I. C. 31/2 (three and a half).5. they were relieving the 5th Yorks.

C Coy was relieving the left Coy of the 5th Yorks from U6 Central to U.6.D.7and one quarter to 5 and a half

A and B Coys held the centre from U6. D. 7 and one quarter to 5 and a half (i.e. joined up with C coy) and V. 1.C. 4 and a quarter.  These two companies were to form up on a tape laid on a bearing of 137 degrees magnetic

 

The diary shows the Companies advanced at 2a.m. and although the flanking Companies managed to establish posts the two centre Companies were held up by machine gun fire.  A line was eventually established  from U6.b 4.4. to V.1.c.1.8. to TURENNE CROSSING.  Having established the line the battalion was relieved at

8 p.m.

 

As ever S+d's law dictates that on the 1.20000 maps the area we are looking at it is right on the boundary of two maps hence the Schaap-Balie map which I can't find on the NLS site.

The larger scale maps are 20 SE AND 20 SW

20 SE is here on the NLS site (though I suggest you have a look at the link posted by Robert above first) 

http://maps.nls.uk/view/101464873

and 20 SW is here http://maps.nls.uk/view/101464867

 

I'm guessing you are not sure how to read a trench map therefore have a look at the LLT http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battlefields/how-to-read-a-british-trench-map/

(googling 'how to read a WW1 Trench Map will give lots of other sites to assist you).  The NLS maps allow you to an overlay from Google maps so it's worthwhile looking at the larger scale maps if you intend to visit.

 

Mc Masters University also have online trench maps again not too helpful

Egypt House which was subject to an artillery attack mentioned in the 1/4 th war diary is on this map

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A66666/-/collection

but once again it's right on the edge i.e. square U 

 

However you should now be able to pinpoint their position, the 'minor operation' resulted in one officer and 6 other ranks killed and two officers and 28 other ranks wounded.

 

Ken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 1 December , 2017 by kenf48