1944 - 1949
The definitive research resource for the 1st KOSB from 1944-1949
1st KOSB EXERCISES
EXERCISE BOUNCE
-
Chilgrove, South Downs
England
Officers in the field. IWM Image
On 18 April 1944, seven weeks before D-Day, 1st KOSB began a two-day cycle of company live-firing exercises on the South Downs above Chilgrove, north of Chichester in West Sussex.
In Exercise BOUNCE, "B" Company acted as advance guard to the Battalion, half a mile ahead of it, pushing north from a wood towards old enemy defences at the earthworks on Stoughton Down. The scenario was a landing: no supporting arms had yet come ashore, no British troops were on the flanks, and only slight opposition was expected. The CO gave out his orders on the ground at 1200 hrs, and the exercise ran for just one hour.
The same five umpires who would run DAD and SINNER the next day reconnoitred the ground on 16 April, with Capt J. Gray responsible for safety and liaison with the range wardens.
WAR DIARY - 1ST KOSB
18 April 1944
Ex BOUNCE and BOUNCE BACK for B and D Coys respectively. (See Appx B and C)
6 Officers and 6 O.Rs attended a lecture on Sniping by Major Wells at PETWORTH CAMP.
ENSA Concert in the N.A.A.F.I. in the evening.
18 April 1944
18 April 1944
Supporting Documents
APPX "B"
Subject:- Ex "BOUNCE" · A/9/163
To: OC "B" Coy
Capts Sanderson, Skinner MM, Stonor, Dove, Gray (Umpires)
Sig Offr, MO, IO.
1. Exercise Instructions
(a) At 1200 hrs 18 Apr B Coy, 4 SBs, 2 Sigs and 18 set will be at wood 260294 ready to adv at 10 mins notice.
(b) Exercise will end at 1300 hrs. All tps will be clear of the fd firing range by 1330 hrs.
(c) Sig Offr will detail sig NCO with Bn HQ set. I Sgt will act as IO.
(d) Coy carrier will NOT be taken.
(e) Capt J. Gray will make contact with range wardens and be responsible for safety arrangements.
(f) There will be no firing outside the fd firing area nor, during the exercise, will there be movement outside it.
2. Gen Idea
(a) B Coy is the adv gd to the Bn which is ½ mile to the south.
(b) No sp arms have been landed.
(c) Old enemy defs exist at Earthworks 261312, only slight enemy opposition is likely.
(d) There are no British troops on the flank.
3. Special Idea
The CO will give out orders on the ground at 1200 hrs.
4. Umpires Instructions
Umpires will recce the ground, departing from the orderly room by MT at 1400 hrs 16 Apr.
(Signed) J.B. Boyd, Capt., Adjt. 1 KOSB
Field, 15 Apr 44
Copy to: MTO
Map of Exercise BOUNCE, 18 April 1944: 1st KOSB "B" Company advances north from wood 260294 onto the old earthworks on Stoughton Down, above Chilgrove in West Sussex, plotted from the grid references in the orders.
OUR TAKE
BOUNCE was the opening move of a four-part cycle: B Company at midday on 18 April, D Company in BOUNCE BACK that afternoon, then A and C Companies in DAD and SINNER the next day. Every rifle company in the battalion went through the same drill over the same ground with the same umpires. The scenario is telling: "no sp arms have been landed" and "no British troops on the flank" describe the first hours after an assault landing, when an infantry company would have to push inland on its own. Seven weeks later that is exactly what the battalion did. It was a full day for the battalion besides: while B and D Companies were on the range, a party of officers and men was at Petworth Camp for a lecture on sniping, and the evening ended with an ENSA concert.
Transcribed from the original War Diary and appendices, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, April 1944 (War Diary 18 April 1944; Appx B, order A/9/163, 15 April 1944).