1944 - 1949
The definitive research resource for the 1st KOSB from 1944-1949
1st KOSB EXERCISES
EXERCISE FIZZLE
-
Burghead, Moray Coast
Scotland
Landing vessels on Normandy beach, June 1944
In January 1944 the 3rd British Infantry Division was training in the north of Scotland for the assault landings it would make on D-Day. Exercise FIZZLE was a full divisional assault landing on the Moray coast at Burghead, carried out by 185 Infantry Brigade with naval gunfire and artillery support.
1st KOSB did not land. Instead, the Commanding Officer, three officers and eight NCOs travelled overnight by train from Galashiels to Inverness. They embarked in a Landing Ship Infantry (LSI) at Fort George and watched the assault from the sea.
The battalion order below, signed by the Adjutant, Capt J.B. Boyd, sets out who went, how they travelled and what they were to wear and carry.
WAR DIARY - 1ST KOSB
27 January 1944
Capt. G. E. Instone M.M. lectured on escape from a German P.O.W. Camp to all Officers W.Os. and Sgts. at STOBS. Spectators for Exercise FIZZLE left this evening for the north. They will be spectators at 185 Br. Inf. Bde. Exercise.
27 janvier 1944
29 janvier 1944
Supporting Documents
SC/1/44/7 · SECRET · IMMEDIATE
Subject: Ex "FIZZLE"
1. Exercise FIZZLE, a divisional assault landing exercise for tps of 185 Inf Bde with full naval fire support and artillery support, takes place in BURGHEAD area on 29 Jan 44.
2. The following spectators will attend:
Capt. J. Roynon-Jones
Lt. J. Gray
Lt. K. Taylor
Two NCOs D Coy
Two NCOs B Coy
Two NCOs Int Sec
One NCO Sigs
One NCO Pnr Pl
3. The Commanding Officer is also attending as a spectator.
4. Train timings
Station | Time | Date | |
Depart | GALASHIELS | 1800 hrs | 27 Jan |
Arr | EDINBURGH (Waverley) | 1913 hrs | 27 Jan |
Depart | EDINBURGH (Waverley) | 2045 hrs | 27 Jan |
Arr | INVERNESS | 0550 hrs | 28 Jan |
Breakfast and lunch as arranged by 3 Br Inf Div | 28 Jan | ||
Lunch | 29 Jan | ||
Depart | INVERNESS | 1550 hrs | 29 Jan |
Arr | EDINBURGH (Waverley) | 2134 hrs | 29 Jan |
5. Coys will ensure that all Offrs and NCOs are present at GALASHIELS STATION by 1745 hrs 27 Jan.
6. MTO will detail C.O.'s car and one 3-tonner to meet train arriving WAVERLEY STATION at 2134 hours 29 Jan to convey party back to Bn area.
7.
(a) During the exercise spectators will be embarked in LSI and will watch the exercise from the LSI.
(b) Place of embarkation – hard FORT GEORGE WEST.
(c) Time and date – 1330 hrs 28 Jan.
(d) Approx time of dis-embarkation – 1200 hrs 29 Jan.
(e) Meals on board LSI under Naval arrangements.
8. Dress: Clean fatigue, greatcoats and small pack.
9. Haversack rations will be taken.
(Signed) J.B. Boyd, Capt., Adjt. 1 K.O.S.B.
Selkirk, 26 Jan 44.
Distribution: C.O. (1) · B Coy (1) · D Coy (1) · HQ Coy (2) · S Coy (1) · IO (1) · Sig Offr (1)
Early 20th-century Ordnance Survey six-inch map of Burghead and the landing area
OUR TAKE
Watching another brigade land from the deck of an LSI was the first step in a steep learning curve. Within weeks the battalion was doing it for real in the same waters on Exercises GRAB and LEAPYEAR, and by May it was landing at Climping on FABIUS. The names on this short list run right through the story: Lt K. Taylor would become Adjutant, Lt J. Gray was Safety Officer on DAD and SINNER, and Capt J. Roynon-Jones, who led the advance guard on FABIUS, was killed in action in Normandy on 10 June 1944.
Transcribed from the original War Diary and appendices, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, January 1944 (Battalion Order SC/1/44/7, 26 January 1944).