walt71 Posted 24 June , 2023 Share Posted 24 June , 2023 (edited) I am trying to identify the modern location of a reference point from a trench map, as described in the images I attached from a Canadian Expeditionary Force personnel file. I know the grave is no longer there, but I would like to visit the location or as close by as possible. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. Edited 24 June , 2023 by walt71 Adding detail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 24 June , 2023 Share Posted 24 June , 2023 Hi Walt, welcome to the forum. We can help you a bit more if you gives us the name of the soldier and the date of death. That way we can do some cross-checking on both the soldier and the map itself. Until you do that, anything is an interpretation given that the reference is non-standard and the date is unknown. Here is my guess: The handwritten burial note uses an incorrect map notation (or by strange coincidence the grave row and plot itself is actually AD.9D). Anyone on the forum can use TrenchMapper from The Western Front Association free of charge. TrenchMapper has 32, 1:40,000 maps of which 6 are combined sheets. For example, here is a 1915 map with an almost identical description Name: Bethune, La Bassee, Pont a VendinSheet: 36A SE & 36 SW & 36B NE & 36C NW Combined sheetScale: 1:40,000. Edition: Second Edition 1915 On this map the letter n in Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée lies within the Great War reference A.9D (we write it as 44a.A.9.d). If this is the location you want, then the modern address to go to is returned by TrenchMapper. You are at 50.527561, 2.759845 Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, Béthune, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, Metropolitan France, 62149, FranceGreat War reference 44a.A.9.d.16.07 The Givenchy-les-la-Bassee Communal Cemetery (green pin) is very close by and also in 44a.A.9.d. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt71 Posted 24 June , 2023 Author Share Posted 24 June , 2023 Thank you for your help! His name is Allan McLean Davidson and he was killed on June 16, 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 24 June , 2023 Share Posted 24 June , 2023 Cheers, Walt, that means that the 1915 map above was a good fit. Use the image below as a rough guide and you will be able to stand in the area I think he was originally buried in. Don't get fixated on the pins and lines - the essential location is the 'n' in Givenchy and we're in that vicinity. All open field in 1915. Click to enlarge image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt71 Posted 24 June , 2023 Author Share Posted 24 June , 2023 Amazing! Thank you again. This is incredibly helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianmorris547 Posted 26 June , 2023 Share Posted 26 June , 2023 (edited) Walt This recent thread deals with Canadians at The Duck's Bill on 15/06/1915. Howard has posted some detailed maps. https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/228095-givenchy-the-ducks-bill/#comment-3217287 A 9 d would make more sense, see this map from the WD of 21 Infantry Brigade of 7 Div. Courtesy TNA/Ancestry WO 95/1228. Brian Edited 26 June , 2023 by brianmorris547 typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt71 Posted 10 October , 2023 Author Share Posted 10 October , 2023 Thanks, Brian. Just coming back to this now, as I'm headed to France next month. So based on your map, the location would be slightly west-northwest of the point on WhiteStarLine's map? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianmorris547 Posted 13 October , 2023 Share Posted 13 October , 2023 (edited) On 10/10/2023 at 13:22, walt71 said: Thanks, Brian. Just coming back to this now, as I'm headed to France next month. So based on your map, the location would be slightly west-northwest of the point on WhiteStarLine's map? Difficult to say. I have only one 1:40 000 Bethune map in my 1915 index and that is in the May 1915 WD of 47 Div HQ GS. I have cropped it to show where the N in Givenchy is in A 9 d. More or less where Bill posted on 24/06. There are other 1:40 000 maps of Merville La Bassee and this is one, also cropped, is from the February 1915 WD of 5 Infantry Brigade, 2 Div. EDIT By more or less I mean Bob On. TNA/Ancestry WO 95/2697 (47 Div) and WO 95/1343 (5 IB). You will need the IGN 1:25 000 no 2405 E when you get to France Have a good trip. Brian Edited 13 October , 2023 by brianmorris547 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt71 Posted 21 October , 2023 Author Share Posted 21 October , 2023 Thanks, Brian. I really appreciate the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt71 Posted 6 April Author Share Posted 6 April WhiteStarLine and Brian - I made it to France and was able to visit the battlefield and burial site. Thanks again so much for your help—not sure I would have figured out where to go without it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 7 April Share Posted 7 April Walt, good to hear you have paid tribute to another gone but not forgotten. Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianmorris547 Posted 7 April Share Posted 7 April Walt Glad I could help. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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