Pilot’s Map, RFC, 1916

[JohnC]

I wonder if Forum experts can identify the exact purpose of the attached map? It’s provenanced to a pilot of No 2 Squadron RFC, who qualified in May of 1916 and flew missions on the Western Front over the next several months. His logbook, for which I’ve only seen a few pages, lists counterbattery, day and night bombing and photographic sorties.

The map is small, measures only 8.5” by 6”, very handy for the cockpit. It appears to be printed photographically on glossy paper. It shows the area south of Lens, as per the attached trench map, with the front line from square M20 to Q28 as per the situation of mid 1916.

The standard grid reference squares are obvious. What is puzzling me are the capital letters in most of the squares, which don’t correspond to what I know of the usual Zone Call system. There is a pattern, for example the Gs being furthest from the front and the Fs nearest. Also a change in the pattern between the zones C and A. My best guess is that they represent allied artillery, with square T21 for example being allocated to a long range battery, and square M32 to five shorter range batteries. So if the observer needed to call fire onto the NE quarter of Vimy village he would be patched through to Q or X battery. Does this make sense? If anyone has a definite answer I would love to hear it.

Thanks, John