War diaries help needed

[spionKopKid]

I have obtained the war diaries for my grandfathers regiment and am a bit baffled by some of the terminoligy, was hoping someone here might help.

"C.O. ordered a Pl of 'B' Coy forward to join 'D' Coy - to go as a fighting patrol - to Pt 374, 858807, to clear German MG positions......"

I can't seem to find where Pt 374 will be (on maps etc) and was hoping the 858807 would be a grid reference, but that doesn't seem likely as this was in italy!!

Any help appreciated

[Tony]

I have obtained the war diaries for my grandfathers regiment and am a bit baffled by some of the terminoligy, was hoping someone here might help.

"C.O. ordered a Pl of 'B' Coy forward to join 'D' Coy - to go as a fighting patrol - to Pt 374, 858807, to clear German MG positions......"

I can't seem to find where Pt 374 will be (on maps etc) and was hoping the 858807 would be a grid reference, but that doesn't seem likely as this was in italy!!

Any help appreciated

I think these points were only frontline grid references. Below is an example which was luckily with the battalion diary and would say if the original sketch or references aren't available, there won't be much chance of finding the exact spot.

Tony

It can't be seen clearly but I'm refering to the points C15 and C18 below the words 'bomb.'

Edited July 12, 2008 by Tony

[Graham Stewart]

Have you tried the Great War Forum? A lot of it's members are map collectors and I know at least one of them has created a trench mapping device for France & Flanders and also many of them follow the campaign in Italy. If I remember correctly Trench Maps bare no resemblence to the Ordnance Survey Maps we're familiar with and use a different map reading technique.

[spionKopKid]

Thanks for all the help, you are indeed right and they are references to military co-ordinates, apparently these where deliberatley "non-standard", incase reports etc got into the wrong hands. Fortunatley I managed to find a map in another regiments war diary, seems their CO was a bit better at report writing !

Thanks again fot the help, greatley appreciated!