top of page

1st KOSB Signals Section 50 Franc Note...

One of our contributors, Rob Bowie, sent us some images of a 50 Franc French bank note that was signed by members of 1st KOSB's Signals section the night before D-Day. 

The note was kept by Rob's Father-in law, Norman Bowie, and, years later, Rob tried to find who the people were behind the signatures. We had a look at it but also didn't make much progress until we were checking medal cards for those wounded in action and noticed that, if the soldier survived, they normally signed their medal cards... 

This set us off on a quest and with quite a bit of detective work, we have managed to track down the names and some details on who these gentlemen were. *Huge thanks to Jenny for her outstanding work on this project!

Signature
Initials
Surname
Rank/Nickname
Match Status
Potential Match
Service No.
L E
Bucksey
Sgt MM
Confirmed by signature
Sjt. Leonard Edward Bucksey
338173
J
Baldwin/Boulder
N/A
Researching
NOTHING
N
Bowie
N/A
Confirmed by relative
Pte Norman. Bowie
3196908
D.B.
Cameron
N/A
Confirmed by signature
SGT D B Cameron
3194195
Henry
Cockburn
N/A
Confirmed by signature
L/Cpl Henry. Cockburn
3196950
JB
Cunningham
N/A
Confirmed by signature
Pte. Joseph Baxter Cunningham
3196413
D
Davidson07
N/A
Confirmed by Service No.
Pte D H Davidson
3065907
J
Davis
N/A
Confirmed by signature
Private John Davis
3188047
A
Dickens
N/A
Confirmed by signature
A Dickens
14524700
M
Brelsford
N/A
Confirmed by signature
Marshall Brelsford
3190940
E
Ewing
N/A
Confirmed by relative
Eric Ewing
NONE
Garvie
'The Dago'
Confirmed by signature
Pte. James R Garvie
3194297
J
Gilston
N/A
Potential match on signature
Corporal James Bell Gilston
3197654
E
Graham
N/A
Potential Match
L/Cpl E.L. Graham
3194008
W
Jarman
'Mucker'
Researching
NOTHING
Dusty
Millar
N/A
Potential Match
Pte W.R. Millar
3193963
C
Reed77
N/A
Potential Match with name and Service No.
Private Charles Chalmers Reed
3065977
James
Reid
N/A
Potential match with sig and Signals
James Reid
7911108
D
Reid67
N/A
Confirmed by sig/S No.
Pte D.P. Reid
3193967
J
Ritchie
N/A
Confirmed by signature
Pte J. Ritchie
14214497
A
Scott
N/A
Confirmed by signature
Alex Scott
14731977
G A
Small
N/A
Potential Match
Pte G A W Small
3197818
W
Brown
N/A
Researching
Researching
Researching
Unknown1
Pake
N/A
Confirmed by signature
Corporal William Pake
3185122
Unknown3
Carnes?
N/A
Researching
NOTHING
Researching
P
Armstrong
N/A
Researching
NOTHING
Researching
J
Sisterson
N/A
Confirmed by signature
W/C.Q.M.S John Sisterson
3187122
Unknown6
Farthing?
N/A
Researching
NOTHING
Researching
Unknown7
Wallace
N/A
Potential Match
Pte R S Wallace
14214514

Supporting Documents, notes and photos:

As well as searching medal cards and checking service numbers, we have also trawled through old copies of the Borderers Chronicles for any mention of the names behind the signatures. 

bottom of page