Using the official War Diary of the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderors, I have put together a brief summary of their movements in Normandy from D-Day, 6th June 1944, onwards.
(Work in progress)
 |
| Pipes and drums of 1st KOSB in Selkirk, Scotland prior to Normandy Invasion, D-Day. |
*Prior to departure for Normandy, 1st KOSB stayed in Denmead, Hampshire near the South Coast of England.
*UPDATE - 1 KOSB sailed for France, on the 4th of June, 1944 from Cosham, near Portsmouth. They came ashore at approx. 11am, which would make them the 2nd wave. (Credit: D Kane, UK)
*UPDATE - 1 KOSB sailed for France, on the 4th of June, 1944 from Cosham, near Portsmouth. They came ashore at approx. 11am, which would make them the 2nd wave. (Credit: D Kane, UK)
6th June - Queen Beach SWORD
Came ashore as part of 2nd wave with folded bicycles. Pipes played the companies ashore.
Turned right off the beach along the road to Lion Sur Mer. Commandoes were still dealing with snipers. Passed through the lines of 2nd Bttn Lincolnshire Regt.
Snipers in the tower at Hermanville. Heavy shelling dislodged them.
Bttn dug in at St Aubin D'Arquenay. At sunset they watched the reserve brigade of 6th Airborne land their gliders in the East. Orders were issued for an early hours attack on Cazelle the next morning.
7th June- Le Mesnil Woods
After attacking Cazelle, they dug in at Le Mesnil Woods. Whilst digging they were mortared and took heavy casualties in B and C companies. At twilight, they were attacked by friendly tanks who mistook them for Germans. They attempted a break out and the Pipe Major played 'Blue Bonnets' just before.
Stayed in the woods until June 9th, working alongside the 2nd Bttn Royal Ulster Rifles, laying minefields and returning mortar fire.
9th June - Cambes
Brigade ordered to capture St Coutes but met opposition in Cambes. 2nd RUR attacked first but met heavy opposition from 12 SS Hitlerjugend panzers. KOSB crossed a wheat field and attacked the flanks at bayonet point.
20th June - Cambes
Bttn withdrawn and relieved by 2ND RUR.
(Conflicting. Relieved by 5th Bttn South Staff Reg (58th Infantry Division) at Cambes then marched to Benouville to prepare for attack on Caen).
6th July - Benouville
Prepare for Caen offensive.
9th July - Caen
Attack on Caen. 1st KOSB were some of 1st troops to enter Caen.
11th July - Caen
Handed over their sector to Canadian troops and marched out to the sound of the pipes. Climbed aboard carriers to go to Plumetot.
12th July - Plumetot
Day off R&R. Football, swimming and going to the cinema. Pipers played The Retreat for first time on French soil.
15th July - Plumetot to Ranville
Left in lorries in the evening to relieve the 6th Airborne around Ranville.
Arrived under cover of darkness and told to dig in. Ground was hard and full of flints (gliders also reported sparks from skids/ground when landing).
18th July AM - Escoville
Start of Operation Goodwood. At 8:15, after watching the bombers flatten the enemy positions, they set off through the fields to Escoville. They lay in the orchards surrounding the village then up a slope towards Sannerville. Upon arrival, they dug in on a slope towards cornfields. D company passed through the town but ran into heavy mortar fire as they passed through the Eastern exits. When the rest of the Bttn moved in, they were pounded by 88s and sniper fire.
In the evening, they were held up on outskirts of Troarn (where the two roads split). Remained dug in until 31st July.
31st July - Bieville
R&R
1st August - Longraye
4th August - Foret L'Eveque
5th August - Montisenger
Lovely Sunday morning. Prelim preparation for an attack.
Attack on the Vire-Vassy Road started at 6:30PM
9th August - Vire
Met up with US 42nd Infantry, Rainbow Division.
12th August - Viessoix
Spent 3 days here.
15th August - Flers/Landisacq
Spent 10 days here.
Unknown date: La Chappelle Au Moine. Paid tribute to American bomber crew (killed by SS?) Played pipes.
3rd Sept - Les Andelys
Crossed the Seine. Went to Hacqueville.
6th Sept - Etrepagny.
Spent 10 days here before moving on to Belgium. Pipes and drums played.
More info:
Photos of 1st KOSB 1944-1950 > https://www.pinterest.com/ddaystripes/kings-own-scottish-borderors-kosb/
Google Map to accompany the above > https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z1uvU7Q3nGy0.kDQjNG0r7AQE (WIP)
Link to Memorial page for 1st Bttn KOSB on Fallen Heroes of Normandy > http://www.fallenheroesofnormandy.org/Servicemen/UnitShipSquadron/5945
If you have any further information, photos or stories from this period of the Battalion's history, please do get in touch.
***
Hi - my father (also Rodger Moffet) was 1st Bt KOSB D-Coy. He got as far as Etrepagny and contracted Pleurisy (brought on from his account from being in a heavy waterlogged trench but not sure where). I have some extra information for you:
ReplyDeleteFather always claimed they landed at 10:10am he was quite adamant about the time. LC Captain rammed the craft up the beach and they landed on dry sand. His Friend Jeff Henderson who was in the same Coy went back to Normandy many times in the years soon after the war and he gave us a hand drawn map of the movements in the first days as well as a long description.
Father maintained he crossed Pegasus on D Day but then they went back (possibly St Aubin D'Arquenayas you suggest)
19th July there was heavy fighting in an attempt to take Troarn - lcpl H Hardman (nicknamed 'joe' because he looked like Stalin) was killed there when he tried to dash across the town square - two bren guns providing covering fire both jammed as he was in the middle of the square - he was cut down instantly.
I have a copy of Jeff's hand drawn map scanned i can email to you along with a fuller description of his recollections of movement until he was wounded on 7th Aug
If you would like me to send this my email is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - thank you so much for providing this info, im really keen to find out more about Etrepagny to discover exactly where they were camped - we explored the area with dad on the 50th Anniversary but he didn't recognise any features.
All the best Rodger Moffet