Some Observations on Wartime Geography in England

Abstract

HE normal pursuit of geographical and cartographical studies in Great Britain was almost completely disrupted by the war. True, departments of geography at most British universities continued to function, but their curriculums were altered to include a considerable amount of wartime training. Courses in field mapping and surveying, drafting, printing, and cartography either replaced or were added to the traditional ones. Preparation for defense was paramount. Furthermore, it must be remembered that England never possessed manpower or resources comparable with those of the United States; consequently, the British were closer to scraping the bottom of the barrel than we in this country can imagine. In addition to their traditional college training in geography, the British Isles have been known for their commercial map houses, outstanding among which are Stanford's, Bartholomew's, Philips', and Johnston's. These establishments were subject to the rules and regulations laid down by the government so far as personnel, equipment, and supplies were concerned. All private and commercial agencies subject to governmental control were at the disposal of the newly created Directorate of Military Survey as a part of the defense of Great Britain. Map collections and the production of maps were taken over by the service ministries (War, Admiralty, and Air) as required. In peacetime the Geographical Section of the General Staff produced maps (not on sale to the public) for the War Office, and the Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty produced its world-wide series of charts for both service and public use. The survey of England, Wales, and Scotland and the printing and publication of the official maps (mainly for civilian use and public sale) were carried out by the Ordnance Survey. As its name suggests, the Survey was originally (when first formed a hundred and fifty years ago) a military organization, and it is still controlled and organized by high-ranking officers of the Royal Engineers, but it is otherwise an independent organization answerable to Parliament through the Ministry of Agriculture. The several sur-veys of the Empire, such as the Survey of India, were independent units responsible solely to the government of India or of