Good day all, I am researching my Grandfathers experience during 1944. He was a replacement rifleman trained at Camp Croft S.C, attached to the 80th 317th 2nd G Co. as a BAR gunner. As far as I can tell so far, he only spent the month of November on the front lines before getting trench foot and being sent through hospitals back to the states. I have copies of the Morning reports of his unit, which for the month of Nov all seem to reference coordinates from a 1/50,000 Map of Nomeny, France. Example (35.7/32.9 Map of Nomeny 1/50,000) Is there any database or collection of maps available to possibly find this map? or any way of turning these coordinates into GPS? I am assuming I would need that map to find exact locations. I saw some posts on converting MBCS coordinates, but I'm not certain those are MBCS coordinates. I know the City/towns the traveled through/near, it would just be great to know exact positioning. For those interested the locations were, in order: Pont-a-Mousson, Atton, Eply, Raucourt, Han-sur-Nied, Adaincourt, Herny, Many, Faulquemont, Pontpierre, Teting, Folschviller, Petit Ebersviller, Macheren, Guenviller.
If it is one of the AMS/GSGS maps you should be able to order a copy from the National Archives. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/406 Or from the other National Archives... Military maps of the Second World War - The National Archives
I will try that out Rich, thank you. Unfortunately the Archives are closed for the time being but when I am able to order I will try.
What is it that makes you think they are not MBCS coordinates? All the US Army MRs from the ETO that I have seen use 6-digit (ignoring the decimal point) MBCS coordinates. Granted, that does not mean the must be MBCS. Did you try using the coordinates translator?
@ All the coordinates are 3 digits with a decimal before the last, ie 35.7-32.9, which led me to figure they are not MBCS and a referring to a specific map grid.
I was able to find this image someone posted in a collection from a major in the 80th. I shrunk it down to post it here but the version I downloaded is just legible enough that I think I can make a reproduction of its scale, coverage and grid. Some of what it says: Eastern France Nomeny First Premiere Edition Sheet XXXIV 14 (?) 1:50,000 Scale 2cm per KM Reproduced at the Ordnance Survey 1944 from French 1:50,000 map dated 1928 The grid on this sheet has been adjusted to the old triangulation Longitude of Paris: 2' 20' 14' E. of Greenwich(?) For additional terms not included in this abbreviated references see O.R 1471 Eastern France 1:50,000 conventional sign sheet Nord de Querre Zone 49' 30' 00' N. 7' 44' 14' E. of Greenwich(?)
I don't see how that disqualifies the MBCS. With only the coordinates and no other relevant info, it's impossible to know for sure.
I was able to track down an image of the Map that was used - see above post. The map has a grid 81 - 100 - 01- 08 X axis and 21 - 41 Y axis. These were the coordinates being referenced in the morning reports.
The "Modified British System" used by the British and Americans in NWE used an overlay of 1:100,000 mapsheets. Each in turn consisted of four !;50,000 sheets, and then each of those four 1:25,000 sheets. The "Coordinates Translator" is geared to the 1:100.000 maps.
