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McGrath Godfrey Clare Lieutenant Rank in Normandy 282833 Service No. C Company Officer in C Company Godfrey Clare McGrath was born in 1912 in Wakefield, Yorkshire. His Mother's maiden name was Beaumont. In 1946 he married Florence M Cherry (or Hiley) in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He died in 1969 in Morningside, at the age of 56. 1/1 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Morrison David Lance Corporal Rank in Normandy 3188786 Service No. Researching Company Grandfather of Richard Grayling. David Morrison was born in Hawick, Scotland on April 29th 1923. He lived in Allars Bank in Hawick and would probably have attended Hawick High School. From the documents I have, he joined the 1st Bttn KOSB in around 1937 as a 'boy soldier'. He married my Grandma, Lillian Edna Thompson in 1943 in Inverness. *Fellow 1st KOSB piper, James Adamson was his best man. David served with the KOSB through Normandy, Belgium, Holland and into Bremen in Germany. He played the pipes at the funeral of a US Airman who was shot by the SS near La Chappelle Au Moine. He also went to Egypt, Gibraltar and Palestine after the war and finally left the Army in 1950 and moved to Hull, East Yorkshire. David had 3 children and worked as an insurance salesman after the war for the COOP. He helped form the City of Hull Pipe Band and then the CRS (Cooperative Retail Society) Pipe Band in the 80s. He played the pipes all over and was a regular on New Year's Eve and at weddings in the town. (He played at Judo champion Karen Briggs' wedding back in the day). He rarely spoke of the war and I can only recall a couple of things he said. Of Normandy he said, 'we were bitten to death by ruddy midges (mosquitoes) and pounded by Moaning Minnies constantly' (German Nebelwerfer rocket launchers). He told me his best mate was killed when he went back to his dugout for his hat and a mortar bomb landed on it, killing him instantly. He fought the SS and Hitler Youth and said they were young but very vicious. He rated 'Rennie' and Monty as officers and had a lot of respect for the Canadians. He showed me the scars on his back that he still had in the 80s where he'd been forced to take cover when RAF Typhoons strafed them. Fellow 1st KOSB soldier, Joe Hunt joined the regiment the day after. The photographs of 1st KOSB sequestered in Denmead/New Forest prior to the landings were taken on 29th April 1944, his 21st birthday! I keep looking out for him in them. He played the pipes for Monty when he came to their HQ in Germany after the War. Obviously, Grandad was more than 'just' a soldier. He was fiercely proud of Scotland and never lost his 'lilt'. He boxed when he was in the Army and always stayed in shape. He played the bagpipes until his 'wind' gave out and he invested in an electronic chanter. He was learning new tunes until the day he died, and practising the old favourites constantly. He taught me to play the pipes in a no-nonsense way and berated me for not practising EVERY day :-) He had 3 Grandchildren when he died in 2004 and would have found out about my first son being born if he'd waited a month or two longer. Ah well. CoopPipeBandHull_DMorrison.jpg 1/25 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Peter David Mann Smith Lance Corporal Rank in Normandy 3197668 Service No. D Company David's son provided photos, publications and illustrations for the site. 18th July 9:30PM - Troarn, Normandy Lance Corporal David Peter was leading his section around the outside edges of what they had been told was a minefield when, three or four yards in front of him, there was an explosion which he thought was an enemy bomb. He was blown back into this supposed minefield and landed on his knees, fully conscious and with no pain. He noticed his left arm was shattered and pretty 'tattered and torn'. He checked on the rest of his section and asked if they could come to his assistance. "No bloody likely!" came the reply. He took a deep breath and walked out unaided then was attended to by his comrades and a Battalion medic. He was given a shot of morphine and told to walk to the rear where there would be an aid station. After walking for a while he finally came upon two medics with a jeep who (eventually) rushed him to 'A' echelon's medical post. From there he was put in an ambulance and sent to a hospital only a few miles from the enemy lines. A surgeon removed his shattered arm and a short time after he was placed in an amphibious DUKW and transported to a medical ship bound for England. His memories of the voyage and being unloaded are hazy due to pain and medication but he does recall being carried on a stretcher and well-wishers throwing sweets and cigarettes onto his stretcher as he passed. On the 21st of July he was moved from Southampton hospital to Winchester Hospital and then, as he slowly healed, was moved to various other medical centres around the country. David Peter eventually returned home to his wife and became an insurance man to pay the bills whilst studying to be a draughtsman at night school. For many years he was the secretary of the British Legion in Leven, Scotland and was a skilled golfer. He died in 1994 and his son, Sandy, discovered an unfinished letter - which this piece is based upon. 1/7 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Adamson James Pringle L/Cpl Rank in Normandy 3188372 Service No. Researching Company David Morrison's Best Man at Wedding James Pringle Adamson was best man at David Morrison's (Richard's Grandad) wedding in Inverness in May 1943. He married Elizabeth Telford in April 1942, in Galashiels. He was wounded in Normandy on Friday, 9th of June around Cambes/Le Mesnil. He continued to serve after the war as we have photos of him in the Middle East (See gallery) He was still playing the pipes in 1968 when he took them with him on a visit to see relatives in Australia. Looking at photos and official docs, James was most likely in the following places: *Potentially joined KOSB in 1937 (going on Service No.) Most likely from Galashiels/Hawick. 1943: Inverness. Victory Wings parade and practising beach assaults. Also David Morrisons wedding in May. 1944: Selkirk prior to moving down South for D-Day 1944: April 29th Denmead camp in the New Forest 1944: June - September, Normandy 1944: September - Belgium 1944: October - Holland 1944: November - Holland 1944: December - Holland 1945: January - Holland/Germany 1945: February - Germany 1945: March - Germany (Esserden. Rhine Crossing) 1945: April - Germany (Bremen) 1945: May - Germany (VE Day - Dortmund) 1946: Egypt and Palestine 1947: Palestine Temporary Pipe Major . *Went home on leave with D Morrison 1948: January - Jaffa and Tel Aviv After leaving the Army, James Adamson emigrated and became the Pipe Major for the Hamilton Pipe Band in New Zealand. In 1968, he moved to Australia and was the PM for the Kurri Kurri Pipe Band Special thanks for this information go to: James' son, Jamie Adamson. Aad Boode for confirmation of Pipe Major status post-war Jenny for connecting the dots David Morrison for his photographs Members of the Facebook Group - Bygone Galashiels Borderer's Chronicles through the years Galashiels April 1942. Outsite the King's Hotel, Market Street. James Pringle Adamson and Jamie Adamson at a Parade for the Queen Mother in 1966 From Jamie Adamson collection Galashiels April 1942. Outsite the King's Hotel, Market Street. 1/17 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Harmon DCM William Henry Corporal Rank in Normandy 3193990 Service No. Researching Company Received the DCM later in the War *Corporal 'Bill' Harmon was Arthur Looker 's platoon leader on D-Day. He dedicated his book, In at the Deep End, to Bill. Extract from interview posted on the BBC's People's War site by William's son, David. "We had left Cambes — our job to hold that area against seven German divisions had been successful — it allowed the USA and others to move into the Cherbourg Peninsular and port and in an advance from there created the pincer movement of the Falaise Gap. The Germans lost equipment — tanks and guns and 100,000 men. That was the initial move — then we chased them via Rouen into Paris and onwards into Belgium over the Escault canal into Holland. And by Christmas 1944 we were on the borders of Germany. The weather had held up the proceedings, preventing our Planes from getting up." You can find the full article here, which includes the details of William's time after Normandy. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/54/a2870354.shtml "When C and D Companies emerged from the woods into the heather they were met by MG crossfire. L/Cpl W. Harmon of D Company crawled out into the open under heavy fire and flung two hand grenades into one MG, then rushed it firing his Sten, killed the machine gunners and immediately did the same with the next MG post." Page 120, Monty's Ironsides by Patrick Delaforce There's a photograph of Cpl Harmon receiving his DCM from Field Marshall Montgomery here Original wartime caption: Cpl. W. Harmon, 1 KOSB, receives the DCM. GIMERS MONASTERY 3RD BRITISH DIV. INVESTITURE Image: IWM (B 12778) Screenshot 2025-06-28 094048.png KOSB_WHarmon Medal Card Original wartime caption: Cpl. W. Harmon, 1 KOSB, receives the DCM. GIMERS MONASTERY 3RD BRITISH DIV. INVESTITURE Image: IWM (B 12778) 1/6 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Laurie Ronald Edward Major Rank in Normandy 121664 Service No. B Company Commander of B Company Ronald Edward Laurie was born in 1911 in Glencairn. His Mother's maiden name was Campbell. He had an entry in the London Gazette on the 15 March 1940. He married Rosemary L Fullerton in July 1941 in Newcastle. He died in October 1952 in Newcastle upon Tyne, at the age of 41 1/1 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Docherty Ernest CSM Rank in Normandy 3190523 Service No. A Company Awarded the Military Medal Ernest Docherty was born on 18th March 1910 in Crossmichael, Kirkudbrightshire, Scotland. His mother's name was Ellen. He married Jessie King and had one child, Eric. Photographed in Denmead as the 1st Bttn prepared for D-Day, Ernest fought in Normandy and onwards through Europe. Awarded the Military Medal for consistent bravery and his actions during the fighting around Overloon. Ernest Docherty MM Ernest died in 1986. large_000000 (13).jpg KOSB_EDocherty_Medals_FW.jpg large_000000 (13).jpg 1/2 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Cranston James Bird Lieutenant Rank in Normandy 264221 Service No. A Company Carried out many successful patrols James Bird Cranston was born in 1914 in Haddington, close to Edinburgh. The son of James Buchan Cranston and Anne Crookston Bird. He married Helen Baptie Halliday in 1936 in Bolton. Lt. Cranston is mentioned several times in the KOSB Official War Diary for his ability to bring back enemy intelligence from his numerous patrols. These deeds were also reported in newspapers at that time. He continued to show courage under fire when the Bttn were in Belgium near the Escaut Canal. He was wounded in October 1944 whilst serving with the Royal Scots as Acting Captain and died in Ainslie Hospital (Edinburgh) on the 22nd May 1945 just a couple of weeks after VE-Day. He is buried in his local cemetery in Haddington. He was just 31 years old. Credits: Main newspaper clipping - Escaut - from The Evening News, October 11, 1944 Edinburgh Men in Normandy - from the Edinburgh Evening News, July 6th, 1944. Gravestone photo from Janeanne, FindaGrave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69031076/james-bird-cranston 1/3 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Richardson Henry Andison Captain Rank in Normandy 190202 Service No. Support Company In command of Carrier Platoon Henry Andison Richardson was born in March 1921 in Galashiels, Scotland. He married Sylvia M Lough in October 1943, in Northumberland. At time of his medals being awarded he was living in Dundee, Scotland. He died in February 1994 in Stoke On Trent, at the age of 72. If you have any information, or photographs of this soldier, please get in touch using the contact form. 1/1 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Coverdale Terence Gilbert Major Rank in Normandy Researching Service No. Command Company Second in Command of Regiment during Normandy Campaign Terence Gilbert Coverdale was born in October 1917 in Hartlepool, Durham. His father's name was Gilbert. He joined the KOSB from Sandhurst Military College in 1938 and was a keen cricketer, playing for numerous teams, as well as an accomplished Rugby player. He was a Captain during the BEF's time in France during the early part of the war and was Mentioned in Despatches after the Dunkirk evacuation. In January 1941 he married Nancy Margaret Loudon in Fleet Street, London. His Best Man was Captain T D Sanderson . During the Normandy Campaign he was a Major and Second in Command of the Battalion, and was in charge for a time after G D Renny was wounded. He retired from the Army in 1952 as a Lieutenant-Colonel after 16 years with the Regiment. His last two and a half years were commanding the KOSB depot at Berwick. He died in August 2002 and is buried in Hambleton, Yorkshire. Photo credits: Portrait from The Berwick Advertiser, September 27, 1951 Wedding photo from The Yorkshire Post, February 6th, 1941 Gravestone photo from FindAGrave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174920987/terence-gilbert-coverdale#add-to-vc KOSB_TGCoverdale.png KOSB_TGCoverdale_FaGrave.jpeg 1/5 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

McPhilemy James Private Rank in Normandy 14273265 Service No. Researching Company Photos, information and 'moral support' provided by relatives. James McPhilemy was born in Possilpark, Glasgow, November 1924 to Matthew and Ellen McPhilemy. He was the first son born and second eldest of 16 brothers and sisters. He left school at 15 and worked as an apprentice sheet metal worker for Yarrow Shipbuilders in Yoker, Glasgow. James was killed in action 17th June 1944 whilst the Battalion was fighting in Cambes En Plaine. He has a memorial page here You can view the official War Diary for the date of his death here James was given a temporary battlefield grave which was just outside the walls where the CWGC Cambes En plaine stands today. 19th May 1945: James, along with 9 other Borderers, was reburied in CWGC Douvres-la-Délivrande around 9km from Cambes En Plaine. All 10 Borderers are buried in the same row. Special thanks go to Paddy McPhilemy for information and photographs. Private James McPhilemy, 1st KOSB Private James McPhilemy, 1st KOSB 1/5 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention

Hunt Joseph Corporal (post Normandy) Rank in Normandy 14781315 Service No. Researching Company Provided War Diary RESEARCHING 1/5 Previous Special Mention Share Next Special Mention