Map Legend

Hi

I'd be grateful for any help with this. I've been look at some old SHAEF DDay maps, but couldn't work out what these 'seagull shaped icons' were. Frustratingly they weren't in the map legend. I hope someone can sold the mystery. Thanks! Paul

 

Hi Paulagain,

I think they are isolated dugouts, I have never confirmed this, but the relevant part of the symbol matches the dug-out shelter with trench so until otherwise informed I have assumed they are dug-outs or shelters of some kind but not associated with any visible trenches.

BR,
SH

 

https://www.ww2talk.com/index.php?attachments/map-symbols-1941-jpg.198996/

Or put this info google search, and under images it will bring up a lot of pages from the 1943 Field Service Pocket book and has some older pages and newer pages

1943 Field Service Pocket Book on map symbols

The only thing I spotted with a symbol like a “bird” represents gliders. But the symbol on your map seems to be a small “rectangle” with “bird like wings” on the top corners.

 

Hi SH
Thanks for getting back to me. That makes sense. Odd that there were loads of them and it wasn't mentioned in the legend....
all the best
Paul

 

Thanks Temujin,
Unless I'm going mad its not on that legend either
cheers
Paul

 

That Field Service pocket book looks very helpful....

 

I concur. See the Martian Defence Legend via the link at the end of this post:
Symbols of different types of German anti-aircraft guns

Michel

 

Legend from early 1945, unlikely to have changed.

 

Unfortunately the forum software now automatically reduces images to 1024x1024 maximum, so your map has become illegible. Can you crop it to show the relevant part only?
Thanks,
Michel

 

Hi Michel.
Here is a cropped version of one of them. Thanks for your help. Paul

 

Defence Overprint Legend c. March 1945
4 segments









Continue to think that the dugout symbol (in the first image in this set) is unlikely to have changed from Normandy, but do note the section on symbology for reprisal weapons (fourth image) may indicate a legend that was evolving.

 

To confirm what S Hayward says ‘Personnel shelter, below ground’

From: FM21-30 Conventional Signs, Military Symbols and Abbreviations, October 1943

 

Thanks Richard