Group photo of D Company, 1st KOSB prior to Normandy landings

Ten days before D-Day, 37 officers were listed on the 1st KOSB's Field Return — men who had trained together and were about to land on Sword Beach. Three months later, on 2 September 1944 as the battalion prepared to leave Normandy, 32 officers appeared on the roll.

The training took place from 21 August 1944, using a Class 9 FBE bridge, a Class 9 Close Support Raft and six Storm Boats — all part of the operational allotment, which could not be replaced if damaged. A month later, these skills would be put to the test for real when the battalion crossed the Meuse-Escaut Canal in September 1944.

We were contacted via Facebook by Chalky White, whose father was Lance Corporal Noel White. He had a couple of photos of his Dad with his mates and wanted to confirm if one of them was Private Mark Tucker.

'Victory in Europe' day, 1945 was spent in a small town in Germany. The War Diary for 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers on the 7th and 8th of May report the following:

Many years ago (most likely the 80s) I went through my Grandad's photo album with him and scrawled a couple of dates/place names on the pages. I hadn't done it with this photo so knew nothing about it. My only clue was that the piper is also in my Grandad's Wedding Photo - and I presumed he was the Best Man.

August 19441st KOSB, 'played the pipes in honour of an American airman shot by the SS'.