SITUATION REPORTING

Prior to wireless communications, keeping commanders informed of the battle situation relied on wired telephone lines. This worked while in static defences, although the lines were vulnerable to shell fire. As ground was taken, or lost, the only solution was to send a runner. This appears to be a battle situation report (SITREP) from the Italian theatre, judging by the nicknames used for the various features. Issued to units prior to the battle it would allow accurate information to be passed back to commanders by runners.

The battle it depicts has not been identified. It may be the planned allied offensive on the Asiago plateau which was aborted due to the Austrian attack in June 1918. Equally it may be part of the Passchendaele offensive in Belgium. A magnified version of the map is here (600Kb) for those interested. Should anyone recognise the battle then please let me know.