1st KOSB WAR DIARIES

1st KOSB WAR DIARIES - NORMANDY

Wednesday, 12 July 1944

D +

NORMANDY

WD CHECKED ✓

START LOCATION

PLUMETOT

FINISH LOCATION

PLUMETOT

WAR DIARY

SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND INFORMATION

Rest period commenced. General cleaning up and check of kit.

A platoon football game was played and several parties were organised to visit pictures, swimming, etc.

Pipe band played Retreat in the evening for the first time on French soil.

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES

Personal accounts, other War Diaries and excerpts from books

"On the evening of the 12th July, the Pipes and Drums played Retreat in the fields outside the village. This was something of an occasion; it was the first time that Retreat was played on liberated territory, and large crowds of men assembled. The scene was memorable, for the quiet evening sunshine shone over the trampled fields and on the grey walls and peaceful Church tower among its trees, while the Pipers marched back and forth, with kilts flying and the familiar tunes shrilling out in the French air.

Always, when the Regimental March breaks out at the end of Retreat, one feels that the historic spirit of the Regiment is something very real; and as we stood to attention, we thought of our friends who had been killed in the last weeks and who, only a short time before, had stood with us listening to the same music".

WIG Wilson, A Short History of the 1st Bttn KOSB in North West Europe

KOSB playing their Regimental March, Blue Bonnets O'er the Border

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