Originally Posted by Novocastrian

Hmm. I can't really say about that. She might or might not want to distribute it publicly. When she's in a good mood I'll raise the subject .

Should be able to get back to you within a few months.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

Cheers. I've just been reading some reviews and that book is headed for the OH's Christmas stocking. I think you know that her family lives and lived in and around Caen and that they have/had a vacation on house right at Omaha Beach.

She's extremely interested (as am I) in the history and in fact has just completed her own detailed historical account of the proceedings, restricting her narrative to the exact location of the house at Vierville-sur-mer.

Originally Posted by Souvy

This book will not disappoint you. There is an entire chapter on Caen. The book contains lots of maps.

The Daily Telegraph likened the chapter on Omaha to the opening seen from the film Saving Private Ryan, which is very gory. I'd say the book is the gorier of the two.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

What an astonishing insight by the Torygraph hack.

I suspect we've <ahem> scene all the maps of Operation Overlord that there likely are, but a few more wouldn't harm.

BTW the German military maps are available if you go to the Deutsche Soldatenfriedhoff (German Military Cemetery) at la Cambe. This is much less well known than the American cemetery at Colleville, but just as impressive and much more informative.

I actually have half a plan to volunteer as a guide there in my dotage since I speak German, English of course and my French isn't all that bad these days.

It's only 10 km from our house.

Originally Posted by Souvy

Scene?

The volunteer guide idea seems interesting. Go for it.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

My obiously-far-too-subtle way of referring to the obseen spelling in your quoted post.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

Read it again mate. Total rubbish.

There are bits of any inane, ill-informed rant that jive in an incidental way with someone else's perceptions. Nonetheless rubbish, prejudiced crap.

As to your last remark, if you insist on mentioning the Falklands, were there no other maps available to the mighty British Fleet than ordinance survey maps? If not it's astonishing that they actually found the Falklands in the first place.

One wonders indeed how they have ever managed to operate abroad. Ordinance Survey Maps are rare even in France.

A map, I think we might agree, is a two dimensional representation of at least part of the surface of the globe, something often referred to as the geography of the planet. There are no doubt some features highlighted on some geographical maps which concern geology. But those would rather unhelpful in planning a journey, a military campaign or a Sunday drive to see the sheep.

Originally Posted by Oakvillian

Of course, it's most unlike me to raise points of pedantry, but since in this very thread Novo pointed out a terminology usage error between geography and geology, might I ever-so-politely raise the spectre of the difference between the Ordnance Survey and ordinance?

The roots of both words are, of course, the same; but there's a significant difference between ordnance (roughly equating to "military hardware") and an ordinance, which is something akin to a municipal bylaw. Mind you, there are those of a libertarian persuasion who no doubt would promote the establishment of an Explosives Ordinance Disposal unit

Here endeth today's lesson.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

Can I nick Mea maxima twat from Souvy?

Originally Posted by bats

Yeah, I have been told that the Army used Ladybird books to teach map reading to the troops.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

There are no doubt some features highlighted on some geographical maps which concern geology. But those would rather unhelpful in planning a journey, a military campaign or a Sunday drive to see the sheep.