Gallipoli & Trench Maps

[Guest Simon Bull]

Do Trench Maps exist in relation to the Gallipoli campaign in the same way as they do in relation to the Western Front? If so, does anyone know under what reference they are filed at the PRO?

[MartinWills]

Simon,

Yes they do and they do have a number at the PRO - quite a varied selection of different sorts, however thay are typically not as thorough or accurate as the Western Front ones. They exist in the WO 301 category.

The IWM also have a holding but it is not considered complete. They have more than they own up to, however, as the surplus maps at the end of the campaign were returned for re-use in Egypt & Palestine and many of the maps for that theatre were printed on the reverse of the Gallipoli maps. Hence if you search the Egypt & Palestine maps you will find uncatalogued Gallipoli maps on the reverse of some.

Are you looking for anything in particular? There are a lot of good trench diagrams available through other routes and I may be able to help with some.

I will email you a full WO 301 catalogue off-forum.

Martin

[Paul Reed]

As Martin says there are some, but they are not like the trench maps you will have used on the WF. I have put some extracts from examples in my own collection on my website at:

http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/gallipoli_photos.htm

As you will see, small scale maps were often hand drawn.

[michaeldr]

Paul,

Many thanks for the link to your site: it's always a pleasure to see new material on Gallipoli and I will certainly make a point of going back. At first sight I am a little puzzled as to the area covered by the French map; can you point me in the right direction?

Simon

If your interest lies in the area bounded by [west to east] Gully Ravine to Krithia Nullah and [north to south] Fusilier Bluff to Pink Farm, then there is a good 3 page fold-out trench map reproduced in Christopher Page's biography of Brig-Gen Asquith, "Command in the Royal Naval Division." The map is entitled '8th Army Corps, Trench Diagram of Left and Centre Sectors, Nov. 5th 1915.'

Regards

Michael D.R.

[Guest Simon Bull]

Thanks for the help gents.

Simon Bull