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Series

War Office and Ministry of Defence: Survey Services: Directorate of Military Survey...

Catalogue reference: WO 403

What's it about?

WO 403

This series contains technical instructions produced by the various survey units operating in support of the armed forces. The technical instructions cover all elements of the work of the survey units: field survey procedures; product design and...

Full description and record details

Reference

WO 403

Title
War Office and Ministry of Defence: Survey Services: Directorate of Military Survey and Survey Units: Technical Instructions, 1885-1992
Date

1906-1990

Description

This series contains technical instructions produced by the various survey units operating in support of the armed forces. The technical instructions cover all elements of the work of the survey units: field survey procedures; product design and specifications; processes to be followed; equipment and materials to be used and maintained; and administrative requirements.

Topics include:

  • surveying techniques: levelling, triangulation, air surveys, air photography, revision and accuracy;
  • cartographic specifications: projections, grid systems, scales, colours, conventional signs, line widths, cartographic representation of boundaries, use of punctuation, transliteration and spelling of names, use of capital letters, marginalia, edition numbering, standardisation and overprints;
  • cartographic process: materials, equipment, calibration, safety, and reproduction process markings;
  • administrative: checking procedures, sheet history notes, record copies, map supply and distribution, production of gazetteers, interaction with the Ordnance Survey, division of duties and responsibilities.

The series also includes Standardisation Agreements (STANAGS) produced by the Combined Military Planning Staff of the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO), a Cold War alliance which included the UK.

Also included are a number of training pamphlets, and memoranda produced by the survey units.

Arrangement

Grouped by originating survey unit, and by printed series within that grouping. Within the printed series they are in numerical order.

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Creator(s)
  • Ministry of Defence, Directorate of Military Survey, 1964-2000
  • War Department, Topographical Department, 1855-1857
  • War Office, Directorate of Military Operations and Intelligence, Geographical Section, 1922-1939
  • War Office, Directorate of Military Operations and Plans, Geographical Section, 1939-1943
  • War Office, Directorate of Military Operations, Geographical Section General Staff, 1908-1922
  • War Office, Directorate of Military Operations, Topographical Section, 1904-1908
  • War Office, Directorate of Military Survey, 1943-1964
  • War Office, Intelligence Branch, 1873-1888
  • War Office, Military Intelligence and Mobilization Department, Topographical Section, 1901-1904
  • War Office, Military Intelligence Division, Topographical Section, 1888-1901
  • War Office, Topographical Department, 1857-1873
Physical description

786 file(s)

Access conditions

Open unless otherwise stated

Immediate source of acquisition

from 2012 Ministry of Defence

Subjects
Topics
Photography and film
Army
Conflict
Maps and plans
Armed Forces (General Administration)
Accruals

Series is accruing

Selection and destruction information

3.1.2 External relations and defence

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C12266831/

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

9,781,006 records

Within the department: WO

Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General,...

You are currently looking at the series: WO 403

War Office and Ministry of Defence: Survey Services: Directorate of Military Survey and Survey Units: Technical Instructions, 1885-1992

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