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Welcome to Version 2 of TrenchMapper
TrenchMapper Version 2 now has a revamped look, more features, more tools, more maps and a new Theatre of War, Italy. Since its introduction in 2022, it has become the largest online repository of Great War maps and is set to get larger, all down to the work of our amazing volunteers.
Using the main map page
On opening the webpage you are presented with a map or aerial photo which
can be dragged and zoomed with the mouse wheel or +/- icon, as can all the
maps on the site.
Specific data for the displayed map will appear in the left panel along with
a notification of the number of alternate maps at the selected scale for that
location. Use the drop down box to select another map.
The map selection offered will depend on the choice of Filters. You can select by scale, map series etc. and by holding down CTRL, multiple selections can be made.
The zoom level is shown lower left along with a distance scale that changes with zoom level. NB. Zooming in too far will make the map disappear; this is because they are all stored in a vast number of small tiles and very high zoom levels require a great deal of storage.
The British map reference and the WGS84 Latitude & Longitude coordinates suitable for use in a GPS are displayed for the point of the mouse cursor, this updates continuously.
Use the Fader or Opacity Slider top right to expose the modern basemap below the current Great War map. Change the base map using the layers icon top left.
Use the Main Menu or Right Click to display a list of shortcuts.
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A short introduction to Version 2 of TrenchMapper |
Operations available in the main menu.
To close the main Menu, click the menu button again.
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Find Great War features
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A worked example |
A worked example of Advanced Search |
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Finding a point in Gallipoli |
Find a British trench map reference
Type the full or partial British Map Reference and click Convert. The reference must start with a sheet number as the map reference system works sheet by sheet.
A reference like 28.K.8.c.2.9 is a full reference but partial references like 28.K.8.c will work as will 28.K.8 and 28.K or even just 28. In these cases, TrrenchMapper will jump to the centre of the square referred to.
It is important to include dots between items. Some War Diaries or other reports show map references separated with spaces. This will not work in TrenchMapper as it conforms to the standard described on the original maps. Also do not try to use fractions like 28.K.8.c.2 ½. 9 ½. In that cse, the reference would be 28.K.8.c.25.95
Annotate the map and find Elevation data
Click Menu top left and select Annotate Map.
- Draw Line. Draw a line every time you click the screen. Typically used to trace over a front line, barrage line etc. Change line width and colour and edit points as you draw.
- Lines and Points. Paste in a series of points, optionally with a label. Chose if they are joined by lines and select a line colour for each line.
- Elevation Profile. Often used with Line Draw. Draw a line between two or more points and click Elevation Profile. Move along the elevation line and see the elevation and location of each point.
- Overlay Image. Drag and drop a map extract or aerial. Align the corners so that the map fits. Drag, rotate, shrink / enlarge, skew corners. Save boundary coordinates for later use or sharing.
Right click and choose Add Marker Here to display a marker.
Display address, elevation, latitude and longitude and Street View
Capture the screen to an image file
Display options
Click Menu then Map Centre then choose an option
- Show overlays. Shows a list of maps at the current location with clickable links to open them.
- Filter overlays. Choose map scale and type with clickable links to open them. Includes Body Density maps and those used by General Sir Douglas Haig.
- Nearby locations. Displays clickable list of Great War locations nearby
- Refresh overlays. Same as clicking the Refresh button, updates the list of maps relevant tp the curremt location.
- Show modern address. Show the modern address of the point at the map centre
- Show Latitude and Longitude. Shows the WGS84 coordinates of the map centre and its British Map Reference in a purple banner at the top of the screen.
- Elevation at centre. The height above sea level in metres.
- Street View. View how the nearest road location looks now.
On the left of the map, click the Layers icon and choose the basemap that lies below the Great War map or to select the type of Great War feature to display.
Exporting conversions, lines and points
Change Theatre of War and Street View |
Street View:-An example going down the tunnels on Vimy Ridge. A view of the nearest point. |
Overlay your own map
To show a georeferenced map not already in the TrenchMapper catalogue. Drag an image from your computer and drop over the map.
TrenchMapper will accept these files:
- Config. A JSON file that will open a specific map, centre on a poosition and zoom to a value you supply.
- Tour. A JSON file that will load maps and move around the battlefield as a slideshow, changing on the in line value you specify.
- geoJSON. A JSON file that will load supported features, such as lines, points. It will centre on the mid-point.
- KML. Load features supported by the popular KML from Google. Note that any special icons used in the original will not be found by TrenchMapper.
- gpx. Upload tracks from a GPS and have them displayed as waypoints with elevation.
- jpg / png. Drop an image file and overlay it.
Use the dialog that opens to change opacity or allow dragging, rotation and scaling.
Drag and drop
How to upload and overlay your own map into TrenchMapper
Help Version 2 1.1