Military Geology

Specialist Maps of the Geological Section, Inter-Service Topographical Department: Aids to British Military Planning During World War II

“…The two British military geologists serving long-term on the Western Front in Europe during the First World War innovatively prepared specialist maps to guide the abstraction of groundwater by boreholes (Rose, 2004a) and the excavation of dugouts and mine tunnels (Rose and Rosenbaum, 1993a;Rose, 2004b), but these maps were coloured to indicate single-theme ground conditions rather than geology as such. The wide range of maps prepared by the Staff Officer (Geology) of 21 st Army Group to guide the Normandy invasion included maps focused on beach conditions, airfield construction suitability, water supply, construction materials, soils, and cross-country movement or 'going' (Rose et al, 2006) -but again not on geology as such.…”