St. Gotthard. GSGS 3982 sheet L32/5
by Barbara Bond in The War OfficeLondon, UK
1940
This silk map is one of 74 sheets issued under instructions of MI9 as part of the military map series GSGS 3982.
The maps were printed on silk (for its thinness and durability) in order to assist the British officers to escape from war camps. This allowed the maps to be concealed in clothing or smuggled into the camps in inconspicuous objects like board games or records. They were then copied and reproduced.
This sheet covers area of St. Gotthard and includes details such as railways, roads (both completed and under construction), as well as location of land and water aerodromes.
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Barbara Bond spent her career in public service as cartographic researcher in MoD, initially in the forerunner of the Defence Geographic Centre and latterly as the senior civilian Director and Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Hydrographic Office, the first Defence Agency. On retirement, became an independent consultant, advising UK government departments on graduate recruitment and international commercial companies on training in data capture for marine applications.
Has considerable experience in Higher Education as Chair of Board and Pro-Chancellor of English university. Served on Higher Education Funding Council for England's's Advisory Committee for Leadership, Management and Governance, and on the Equality Challenge Unit's project team, tasked with looking at increasing diversity in University governance.
Served as President of the British Cartographic Society and awarded the Society's silver medal. Served as Chair of the International Hydrographic Organisation's Antarctic Commission and awarded the Prince Albert I medal by HSH Prince Rainier of Monaco. Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and served on the Society's Council.
Registered for a PhD in 2011 which was awarded in 2014. A book based directly on her PhD thesis 'Great Escapes: the story of MI9's Second World War escape and evasion maps' was published in October 2015 by Harper Collins under the Times imprint.
Has considerable experience in Higher Education as Chair of Board and Pro-Chancellor of English university. Served on Higher Education Funding Council for England's's Advisory Committee for Leadership, Management and Governance, and on the Equality Challenge Unit's project team, tasked with looking at increasing diversity in University governance.
Served as President of the British Cartographic Society and awarded the Society's silver medal. Served as Chair of the International Hydrographic Organisation's Antarctic Commission and awarded the Prince Albert I medal by HSH Prince Rainier of Monaco. Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and served on the Society's Council.
Registered for a PhD in 2011 which was awarded in 2014. A book based directly on her PhD thesis 'Great Escapes: the story of MI9's Second World War escape and evasion maps' was published in October 2015 by Harper Collins under the Times imprint.
