Don Regiano #26 Posted 16 January 3 hours ago, Christine Johnson said: Could you please explain how to interpret these locations for example? Christine. There is a comprehensive explanation of trench maps here: https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battlefields/how-to-read-a-british-trench-map/ Reg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howard #27 Posted 16 January (edited) The reports of his death are somewhat confused but there is a common thread. Reported locations are I think Page2 Bull Trench near Flers Wood Page2 Sausage Gully near Pozieres Page 3 Cavalry Trench in front of Flers Page 4 Pioneer Trench Page 4 N.32.A.4.2 Rats Alley, Peter Chasseaud’s book, has a trench index that I think is the same as that on the McMaster University website (they are his maps on the website). In there the only Bull Trench is dated 1918 and is not near Flers. I cannot find a Cavalry Trench nearby nor an “official” Bull Trench but on the image here is a hand written Bull Road. This (almost) matches with map reference N.32.A.4.2 so it seems likely that it is Bull Road, at least that is “in front of Flers”. The index lists Pioneer Trench also at N.32.a although I have yet to find a map that shows it. Full size and resolution map here. As for reading map references, I have a page on my website here or a longer one here. I hope that helps. Howard Edited 16 January by Howard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howard #28 Posted 16 January 3 hours ago, Christine Johnson said: Thank you for your replies WhiteStarLine and Don Regiano, I appreciate you taking the time to help me with this. I need to find a high res image of a map of the place where ES Bisset died, so I am attaching a link to these Red Cross Society accounts - perhaps they will mean more to you - if you have time to examine them we could get more specific. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1038269/document/5625937.PDF I also have some questions about how to read the maps. Could you please explain how to interpret these locations for example? I saw an aerial shot of the region on this feed from egbert. Does this tally with the trench maps we are looking at? Best wishes and thank you for answering my questions. Christine Map reference N.32.a.4.2 is shown here , it defines a square of 50 yard sides. On a map with trenches corrected to 3/9/1916 this is close to an area of destroyed trenches, shown dotted. If you check on the battalion history you may find that at the time, Bull Road was the support just behind the front line as mentioned on the confused reports of the location of his death. I have not checked in the battalion history so this is a guess! Howard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteStarLine #29 Posted 16 January Funny, I was just looking at Bulls Road on a September 1916 map when Howard's post came in. Christine's document clarifies a lot and I am going to go with the Adjutant's map reference as authoritative, as the others mention trench names but he gives a map reference. Bull's road itself is shown in N.32.d, some 400 metres south: 57c.N.32.a.4.2 is as marked by Howard in post #26. I've read the brigade and battalion unit war diary and checked CEW Bean's Official History and notebooks but they shed no further details. The current location is: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howard #30 Posted 16 January I have now checked more than 30 maps but have failed to improve on the Bulls Road assumption. That area of destroyed trenches merits a longer look, they are shown as solid lines on slightly earlier maps so the date they were destroyed maybe of significance. The very fact that the reports of his death are so confused would match with a period of great activity, heavy shelling etc. I agree with Bill, I would take the Adjutant’s report as being most reliable, the others look like being from memory whilst in hospital etc. Howard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteStarLine #31 Posted 16 January I finally found all references thanks. I had forgotten that if the battalion and brigade diaries are sparse, then the divisional staff are normally much better! Here is the reference from the 4th Division AIF November 1916 diary (https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1011325/bundled/RCDIG1011325.pdf): The map shows the entire Army front line from November 1916 and sketch map on page 45 shows Bulls Rd in N.32.a, intersecting with Pioneer Trench in N.32.c. So everything correlates - the Adjutant's reference and Pioneer Trench. Support Rd and Grease Trench are there. See the detailed high resolution map on page 45 of https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1349902, but it is a pretty faded map. Highlighting is mine ... Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howard #32 Posted 16 January (edited) And with a tweak in Photoshop and a full page version here. Good find Bill ! Howard Edited 16 January by Howard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don Regiano #33 Posted 16 January 9 hours ago, Christine Johnson said: I saw an aerial shot of the region on this feed from egbert. Does this tally with the trench maps we are looking at? Christine. The recent posts have, understandably, gravitated to the area to the East of Flers and South of Gueudecourt (large squares 26, 31 and 32). This is the bottom left quadrant of Egbert's aerial photograph (Flers is in the bottom left corner). Here's a map (actually it's an amalgam of maps) showing Needle Trench in that area (square 32): Grease Trench, which I referred to earlier and is mentioned in the Australian documents is to the NE of Gueudecourt. Reg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Christine Johnson #34 Posted 10 February On 27/09/2005 at 11:25, egbert said: Very unique aerial from 1 Oct 1916; if needed in high resolution email me Dear Egbert, This is the picture I need in high res, the lower left quadrant showing trenches SW of Gueudecourt in Oct/Nov 1916. Please advise if this is possible. Many thanks, Christine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Christine Johnson #35 Posted 11 February On 16/01/2019 at 21:03, WhiteStarLine said: Funny, I was just looking at Bulls Road on a September 1916 map when Howard's post came in. Christine's document clarifies a lot and I am going to go with the Adjutant's map reference as authoritative, as the others mention trench names but he gives a map reference. Bull's road itself is shown in N.32.d, some 400 metres south: 57c.N.32.a.4.2 is as marked by Howard in post #26. I've read the brigade and battalion unit war diary and checked CEW Bean's Official History and notebooks but they shed no further details. The current location is: Dear friends, You have all been so generous with your time and research! I am very grateful to have all this information which I will pass on to the Bisset family. You may have wondered why you have not heard from me for a while. One of my sons has been very ill and I have had to put this work on hold for a few weeks. My son is improving now and I am back! Thank you for your close and thoughtful examination of records and for the maps. This seems to be as close as we can get to identifying the place of Bisset's death. I will post news of this project as it nears completion. Again, many, many thanks. Sincerely, Christine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
