1st KOSB WAR DIARIES

Name: 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers — NW Europe 1944-45
Creator: Richard Grayling

JANUARY TO JUN 5th

1944

January 1944 finds the Battalion at Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Within days it moves north to Inverness and Muir of Ord for exercises on the Moray Firth coast, and in the spring it moves south to Sussex for live firing on the South Downs and the final rehearsals for D-Day.

Each day is summarised from the original diary. A dash in the Location column means the place is still being researched. Source: [archive reference]

Date	Location	Summary of Events
01 January 1944	Selkirk	New Year's Day holiday – dinner, C.O.'s visits and Officers v Sergeants soccer.
02 January 1944	Selkirk	Sunday Services as usual.
03 January 1944	Selkirk	Capt. Boyd appointed Adjt. vice Capt. Stoner; preparations for Ex GRAB move north.
04 January 1944	Selkirk	Lieut. W. Turnbull appointed O.C. Home Details w.e.f. today.
05 January 1944	Selkirk	Bn less A Coy left Selkirk by rail at 2145 hrs for Muir of Ord (Ex GRAB).
06 January 1944	Muir of Ord (Camp 4)	Arrived Muir of Ord 0730 hrs; marched 10 miles to tented Camp 4; vehicles already waterproofing.
07 January 1944	Muir of Ord (Camp 4)	Day of briefing; C.O.'s conference at 1100 hrs, then Coy briefings, hampered by poor accommodation and lighting.
08 January 1944	Muir of Ord (Camp 4)	Tracked vehicles moved to a separate assembly area at 0930 hrs; wheeled vehicles followed at 1130 hrs.
09 January 1944	Muir of Ord / Fortrose	Coys rehearsed the move from the concentration area and splitting into craft loads; Bn marched to the embarkation hards at Fortrose.
10 January 1944	Moray Firth (Ex GRAB)	Exercise GRAB.
11 January 1944	Alves, near Elgin	Ex GRAB ended at midday; marching troops covered 10 miles in 3 hours to entrain at Alves, near Elgin.
12 January 1944	Selkirk	Bn arrived back at Selkirk 0520 hrs; road and tracked vehicle parties to follow in two or three days.
13 January 1944	Selkirk	Kit checked and cleaned after Ex GRAB; road party moved from Keith to Perth over icy roads.
14 January 1944	Selkirk	Tracks awaiting train at Keith; C.O. at Div. Conference in Inverness.
15 January 1944	Selkirk	Tracks (tracked vehicles) arrive back in Selkirk.
16 January 1944	Selkirk	Usual Church Services.
17 January 1944	Selkirk	Coy training incl. tank training and street fighting; typhus inoculations.
18 January 1944	Selkirk	Training as for 17th Jan.
19 January 1944	Selkirk	Capt. Borthwick lectured on 'In Action with the 51st Div.'
20 January 1944	Selkirk	Normal training, nothing to report.
21 January 1944	Selkirk	As for 20 Jan.
22 January 1944	Selkirk	Div. Cup wins – Soccer beat 2nd R.U.R. 9-1, Rugby beat Selkirk 16-9.
23 January 1944	Selkirk	Church Services as usual.
24 January 1944	Selkirk	Coys visited German Weapon Circus at Bde. H.Q.
25 January 1944	Selkirk	"B" Coy. made Coy. assault landing on St. Mary's Loch.
26 January 1944	Selkirk	Motor Cyclists training for Ex TWISTGRIP.
27 January 1944	Selkirk	Capt. Instone M.M. lectured on escaping a German P.O.W. camp; spectators left for Ex FIZZLE.
28 January 1944	Selkirk	H.Q. Coy. on Dingleton Range.
29 January 1944	Selkirk	Training normal.
30 January 1944	Selkirk	Sunday Services; A/Tk Pln. in the Bde. Competition.
31 January 1944	Selkirk	Training of Bn. Intelligence Section reserves commenced.
01 February 1944	Selkirk	Ex TWISTGRIP Bde motor cycle trial – O.Rs. team placed 3rd.
02 February 1944	Selkirk	Coy training; Div Cup soccer win v 2 Mx 8-2.
03 February 1944	Selkirk	Nothing to report; Div Concert Party visited Selkirk.
04 February 1944	Selkirk	Nothing to report, training normal.
05 February 1944	Selkirk	Bn. rehearsal for General Montgomery's visit.
06 February 1944	Selkirk	Bde inspected and addressed by General Montgomery.
07 February 1944	Selkirk	New leave period begins; HQ on Gas Chamber, A Coy on Dingleton Range.
08 February 1944	Selkirk	S Coy on the Gas Chamber; Rugby Div Cup win v 2 R.U.R. 11-3.
09 February 1944	Selkirk	A Coy on assault boat landing at Abbotsford.
10 February 1944	Selkirk	Coys practised sending shelling reports during 33rd Fd Regt. R.A. firing.
11 February 1944	Selkirk	Ex BRIDGELAND I.
12 February 1944	Selkirk	Reserve Intelligence Cadre concluded; soccer win v 148 R.A.C. 3-2.
13 February 1944	Selkirk	Sunday Church Services as usual.
14 February 1944	Selkirk	D Coy on leave; R.A.P. moved to Maxpoffle.
15 February 1944	Selkirk	Nothing to report.
16 February 1944	Selkirk	Nothing to report.
17 February 1944	Selkirk	Training normal; N.C.Os Cadre concluded.
18 February 1944	Selkirk	Ex BRIDGELAND II, a similar exercise to Bridgeland I with supporting arms.
19 February 1944	Selkirk	B Coy on leave; Hockey win v Selkirk Ladies 4-3.
20 February 1944	Selkirk	Church Services; Soccer win v 10 I.T.C. at Edinburgh 3-2.
21 February 1944	Selkirk	A Coy left for Ex ANCHOR as enemy for 185 Bde; M/Cyclists at training films in Hawick.
22 February 1944	Selkirk	Normal training, nothing to report.
23 February 1944	Selkirk	Cloth Model Study for Coy Comdrs
24 February 1944	Selkirk	M/Cs commence training for Ex CONROD.
25 February 1944	Selkirk	Lieut. Hindmarsh left for HQ 2nd Army; Ex FOURDRIVE.
26 February 1944	Selkirk	A Coy return from North.
27 February 1944	Selkirk	Sunday Church Services as usual.
28 February 1944	Selkirk	Nothing to report; Officers' Dance held in the Tower, Hawick.
29 February 1944	Selkirk	Nothing to report.
01 March 1944	Selkirk	Training held up by heavy snow; Cpls Dance.
02 March 1944	Selkirk	Preparations for Army Commander's Visit.
03 March 1944	Selkirk	Visit of Army Commander.
04 March 1944	Selkirk	Div Soccer Cup semi-final v Suffolks won 3-1.
05 March 1944	Selkirk	Church services as usual.
06 March 1944	Selkirk	Junior N.C.Os Cadre begins; A and B Coys minelaying competition.
07 March 1944	Selkirk	A and C Coys on leave.
08 March 1944	Selkirk	Training under Coy arrangements.
09 March 1944	Selkirk	Briefing for Ex CAIRN; Bn. 2nd in Bde M/C Trial Ex CONROD.
10 March 1944	Selkirk	Ex CAIRN – Bn. exercise in the Clovenfords area.
11 March 1944	Selkirk	Interior Economy; A/Tk Pl on Shankend Range.
12 March 1944	Selkirk	Church services as usual.
13 March 1944	Selkirk	A/Tk Pl on SHANKEND RANGE.
14 March 1944	Selkirk	A/Tk Pl firing on SHANKEND RANGE.
15 March 1944	Selkirk	Lt. Col. G.D. Renny assumes Command vice Lt. Col. F.W. Johnston.
16 March 1944	Selkirk	Nothing to report – Rugger practice.
17 March 1944	Selkirk	Coy training; practice for Div Rugger Cup semi-final.
18 March 1944	Selkirk	Conference and preliminary orders for Ex CAIRN II.
19 March 1944	Selkirk	Sunday services; preparation for Ex CAIRN II.
20 March 1944	Selkirk	Ex CAIRN II. See appendix.
21 March 1944	Selkirk	Road party moves up NORTH.
22 March 1944	Selkirk	Attack T.E.W.T. for Officers; tracks move north.
23 March 1944	Selkirk	Recapitulatory Conference on Ex CAIRN II.
24 March 1944	Selkirk	Preparation for Ex LEAPYEAR.
25 March 1944	Selkirk	M/C party and part of marching personnel move north.
26 March 1944	Moving north to the Moray Firth (Ex LEAPYEAR)	Remainder of Bn. moves north for Ex LEAPYEAR.
27 March 1944	Burghead area, Moray (Ex LEAPYEAR) – Camps 5 and 8	Ex LEAPYEAR.
28 March 1944	Burghead area, Moray (Ex LEAPYEAR) – Camps 5 and 8	Ex LEAPYEAR.
29 March 1944	Burghead area, Moray (Ex LEAPYEAR) – Camps 5 and 8	Ex LEAPYEAR.
30 March 1944	Burghead area, Moray (Ex LEAPYEAR) – Camps 5 and 8	Ex LEAPYEAR.
31 March 1944	Returning to Selkirk from Ex LEAPYEAR	Exercise finished; main body returns.
01 April 1944	Selkirk	Road party returned from Ex LEAPYEAR.
02 April 1944	Researching	Advance party left for Ex HANDS UP.
03 April 1944	Researching	C.O.'s conference on Ex LEAPYEAR; Rugby semi-final win v 2nd South Lancs 8-3.
04 April 1944	Selkirk (billets around Selkirk, the Haining, Bridgehaugh Mill)	Nothing to report.
05 April 1944	Selkirk (billets around Selkirk, the Haining, Bridgehaugh Mill)	R Company formed under Capt. W. Burns.
06 April 1944	Selkirk (billets around Selkirk, the Haining, Bridgehaugh Mill)	Nothing to report.
07 April 1944	Selkirk (billets around Selkirk, the Haining, Bridgehaugh Mill)	Preparation for Ex HANDS UP.
08 April 1944	Selkirk (billets around Selkirk, the Haining, Bridgehaugh Mill)	Preparation continue for Ex HANDS UP.
09 April 1944	Selkirk (billets around Selkirk, the Haining, Bridgehaugh Mill)	Road party left for Ex HANDS UP; Church Services.
10 April 1944	Selkirk (billets around Selkirk, the Haining, Bridgehaugh Mill)	A Coy and some tracked vehicles left by train.
11 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Main body left by train at 2300 hrs.
12 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Road party and Main Body arrived at new location.
13 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	All Coys on two-hour route marches.
14 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	All Coys on three-hour route marches.
15 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Commanding Officer inspected all Coys.
16 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Church Services in the N.A.A.F.I.s; remainder of Bn. arrived.
17 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Commanding Officer spoke to the Bn about coming events.
18 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Ex BOUNCE and BOUNCE BACK for B and D Coys.
19 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Ex DAD and SINNER for A and C Coys; sniping lecture at Petworth Camp; ENSA Concert.
20 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Training under Coy arrangements; snipers' course began under Capt. J. Roynon-Jones; Bn rugger beat 2 Lincs 27-0.
21 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Snipers and Intelligence Pln formed in HQ Coy; P.A.D. (Passive Air Defence) practice.
22 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	C.O.'s Drill Inspection – HQ and D Coy tie for 1st; soccer win v HQ 3 Div.
23 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Church Services held in N.A.A.F.I.
24 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Officers and N.C.Os attended 'The Pln in the Attack' demonstration.
25 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Officers and N.C.Os briefed for Ex FABIUS; camp sealed.
26 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Preparations continue for Ex FABIUS; ENSA Concert.
27 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Bn 'Go as you please' concert in the N.A.A.F.I.
28 April 1944	West Walk, near Wickham, Hants (Camp A.14)	Bn still awaiting instructions for move for Ex FABIUS.
29 April 1944	Denmead	Serials moved to different locations in readiness for embarkation.
30 April 1944	Researching	Camp taken over by static staff.
01 May 1944	Littlehampton, Sussex	Ex FABIUS.
02 May 1944	Littlehampton, Sussex	Ex FABIUS.
03 May 1944	Littlehampton, Sussex	Ex FABIUS.
04 May 1944	Littlehampton, Sussex	Ex FABIUS.
05 May 1944	Littlehampton, Sussex	Ex FABIUS.
06 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	C.O.'s conference for Officers and NCOs; Major Wallis M.C. talked on the Commandos.
07 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	A and C Coys on S. Downs range; Church services.
08 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Coys on S. Downs range; A and C on street fighting.
09 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	HQ Coy on mines training.
10 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	O Group at T.E.W.T. at E.R.Y. HQ; Bn. entertained Naval personnel with sport, Retreat and a concert.
11 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Sniper Pl. on range all day.
12 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	H.Q. Coy passed mines training tests.
13 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Bn. left for Ex MAYFAIR; representatives attended Gen. Eisenhower's visit.
14 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Ex MAYFAIR.
15 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Bn. won Div. Rugger final v 2 Mx 18-3.
16 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Snipers course commenced at Div. H.Q.
17 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Bn. won Div Soccer final, beating 2 Warwicks 3-2.
18 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Practice parade at Bde. H.Q.; Maj-Gen. Bullen Smith M.C. addressed the Bn.
19 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	L.C.I. loading practice; visit by Maj. Gen. Sir E.N. Broadbent.
20 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Pipe band played at parade in Waterlooville.
21 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Church Services as usual.
22 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Bn. on parade for inspection of 9 Br. Inf. Bde. by H.M. The King.
23 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Training under Coy arrangements.
24 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	A Coy on swimming.
25 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	L.C.I. serials practised bicycle loading.
26 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Camp A.11 sealed.
27 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Preparations for Ex OVERLORD.
28 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Briefing tents prepared.
29 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Briefing of all Officers and senior N.C.Os.
30 May 1944	Denmead, Hants	Briefing of Coys and attached troops.
31 May 1944	Marshalling areas (from Camp A.11)	Serials moved to marshalling areas.
01 June 1944	Marshalling areas	Bttn in marshalling area
02 June 1944	Marshalling areas	Bttn in marshalling area
03 June 1944	Marshalling areas	Bttn in marshalling area
04 June 1944	Aboard craft	Embarkation commenced - operation postponed
05 June 1944	Aboard craft	Embarkation commenced - operation postponed