Our collection of maps and atlases contains some important items which can help provide context and background to First World War research. Much of the maps collection is currently uncatalogued, so readers are advised to contact staff via our Ask a Librarian service for assistance in identifying and requesting material. Digitisation of our collection of First World War maps is ongoing.

Catalogue search tips

Subject headings which can be used to find First World War maps in our catalogue include:

• World War, 1914-1918 - Campaigns - Turkey - Gallipoli Peninsula - Maps
• World War, 1914-1918 - Campaigns - Palestine - Maps
• World War, 1914-1918 - Maps
• World War, 1914-1918 - Europe - Maps
• Australia - History, Military - Maps

Keywords such as the following can also be used:

• 'dardanelles maps'
• 'somme maps'

Use the ‘Limit your search’ options to the right of the catalogue search results to narrow your results by 'format' to maps material.

Many maps in our collection remain uncatalogued and readers are advised to contact us if they cannot locate particular items.

Commercial war maps

Many maps were produced as supplements to newspapers and these provide a valuable insight into the way the progress of the war was viewed and experienced on the home front. Examples of this type of map published in both Europe and Australia are held by the Library, for example:

• What Germany wants: her claims as set forth by leaders of German thought
  Call number: MAP G3201.S65 1916
• War map
  Call number: MAP G5701.S65 [1914-1916?]
• The Daily Mail bird's eye map of the British Front
  Call number: MAP G5831.s65 [1916-1918]

Supporting material

There are various titles held by the Library which can be used to support research into First World War mapping. Titles may be held in the Main Reading Room Reference Collection or in the book stacks and are available for requesting via the online catalogue.

• An atlas of Australia's wars
  Call number: RF 355.00994 C652-2
• Pilgrimage : a traveller's guide to Australia's battlefields
  Call number: RF 355.4 H976
• Topography of Armageddon : a British trench map atlas of the western front, 1914-1918
  Call number: YYef 2014-583
• Artillerys astrologers: a history of British survey and mapping on the Western Front 1914-1918
  Call number: YYq 2014-911
• The Imperial War Museum Trench Map Archive on CD-ROM
  Call number: MAP mt 411

National Library map collections

E K White collection

Ernest Keith White fought with the Australian Imperial Force at Pozieres and Strazeele. His collection contains aerial photography and maps of World War I battle zones and front lines in France in 1917, as well as trench and enemy location maps. Uncatalogued.

Hertz collection

Cyril Sydney Hertz was an avid collector of books, maps and documents relating to military and aviation history. The map collection contains 35 maps (76 sheets) mostly dating from World War I. It is particularly strong in the area around Ypres in Belgium and also has good maps of Anzac Cove and the Dardanelles. There are also maps of German aircraft raids in England in 1915–17. Many of the maps were used in the field and contain manuscript annotations.

Edgeworth David collection

Edgeworth David was a geologist and a Major in the Australian Tunnelling Battalion. This collection contains unique engineering maps used for the design and siting of trenches and tunnels on the Western Front. Fully digitised.