War Office

The War Office has referred to several British government organisations over time, all relating to the armed forces. The department of the Secretary at War was referred to as the 'Warr Office' (sic) from as early as 1694. The War Office was the Government department responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the new Ministry of Defence (MoD). It was responsible for producing a wide range of maps, particularly for military planning and strategic purposes, including campaign, operational and tactical maps, colonial administration, aerial & reconnaissance maps, meteorological & intelligence maps. After World War II, it continued to produce and update maps during the Cold War, particularly of potential conflict areas.

Notable map series produced by the War Office include the GSGS (Geographical Section, General Staff) and European Theatre of Operations (ETO) maps for invasion (eg D-Day) planning and opeartional purposes during World War Two, and the Indian subcontinent during British rule. Highly detailed maps of complex trench systems of British and German forces on the Western Front were produced during the First World War for artillery planning and infantry operations.