1st KOSB War Diary Jan-May 1944

01 January 1944

Selkirk

New Years Day and a Bn. holiday. The usual New Years dinner was enjoyed by the troops and the Commanding Officer visited outlying Coys. in turn ending with H.Q. and S Coys. in SELKIRK. The customary soccer match Officers v Sergeants ended in a victory for the Officers who later entertained the Sergeants in the Officers Mess.

02 January 1944

Researching

Sunday Services as usual.

03 January 1944

Inverness

Changes announced in tonights R.O's. Capt. G. B. Stoner relinquishes appt. of Adjt. w.e.f. 1 Jan. 1944. and posted to C Coy. Capt. J.B. Boyd assumes appt. of Adjt. w.e.f. 1 Jan. General preparations for the impending move northwards for Ex. GRAB. Tracks left on Saturday and road party this morning for the INVERNESS area.

04 January 1944

Researching

Lieut. W. Turnbull appointed O.C. Home Details w.e.f. today.

05 January 2044

Muir Of Ord

The Bn. less A Coy. left SELKIRK by rail at 2145hrs. arriving MUIR OF ORD at 0730. After detrainment marched 10 miles to camp 4 where we are to concentrate. This is a tented camp and promises to be a chilly one although the practice of pitching two bell tents in one marc[?] use counteracts the cold to some extent. The vehicles were already at the camp engaged in waterproofing. Remainder of day spent in settling in.

06 January 2044

Muir Of Ord

The Bn. less A Coy. left SELKIRK by rail at 2145hrs. arriving MUIR OF ORD at 0730. After detrainment marched 10 miles to camp 4 where we are to concentrate. This is a tented camp and promises to be a chilly one although the practice of pitching two bell tents in one marc[?] use counteracts the cold to some extent. The vehicles were already at the camp engaged in waterproofing. Remainder of day spent in settling in.

07 January 1944

Muir Of Ord

Briefing for most of the day. C.O's briefing conference at 1100hrs. followed by Coy. briefing. The lack of suitable accommodation and lighting makes briefing difficult. Some permanent building with good lights seems to be essential for this type of work.

08 January 1944

Muir Of Ord

Tracked vehicles moved to a separate assembly area at 0930hrs. and wheels followed suit at 1130hrs.

09 January 1944

Muir Of Ord

At midday Coys. practised the move from the concentration area which will be carried out after landing. Afternoon spent in rehearsing the splitting into craft loads. The Bn. moved off finally at 1830hrs. in craft loads to march to the embarkation hards in FORT ROSE. Arrival at 2215hrs.

10 January 1944

Researching

Exercise GRAB. See Appendices for detailed record of operations.

11 January 1944

Alves, Elgin

Exercise terminated at Midday. The marching troops marched 10 miles in 3 hours without a halt to entrain at ALVES near ELGIN. Left at 2020hrs. arriving SELKIRK at 0520hrs. Road and tracked vehicle parties will be returning in the next two or three days.

12 January 1944

Selkirk

Nothing recorded

13 January 1944

Perth

Checking of kit and cleaning up after Exercise GRAB. Road party moves from [?] near KEITH to PERTH over icy roads. Road party arrives from PERTH 1545hrs.

14 January 1944

Perth

Tracks still hanging about waiting for train in KEITH. C.O. attends Div. Conf. Conference in INVERNESS.

15 January 1944

Selkirk

Trucks arrive back in SELKIRK.

16 January 1944

Selkirk

Usual Church Services.

17 January 1944

Selkirk

Coy. Training as follows - A & B Coys. Tank Training. C Coy. on leave. D Coy. Street Fighting Course in GLASGOW and EDINBURGH. O.Cs. lecture on Ex. GRAB. Typhus inoculations.

18 January 1944

Selkirk

Training as for 17th Jan.

19 January 1944

Selkirk

Capt. Borthwick observer with the 51st. Div. gave lecture on In Action with the 51st.

20 January 1944

Selkirk

Normal Training nothing to report.

21 January 1944

Selkirk

As for 20 Jan.

22 January 1944

Selkirk

In the Div. Cup the Bn. Soccer Team beat 2nd. H.L.I. 9-1. Bn. Rugby Team beat SELKIRK 16-9.

23 January 1944

Selkirk

Church Services as usual.

24 January 1944

Selkirk

Coys. visited German Weapon Circus at Bde. H.Q.

25 January 1944

Selkirk

H Coy. made Coy. Assault landing on St. Mary's Loch.

26 January 1944

Selkirk

Motor Cyclists continued training for Exercise TWIST GRIP.

27 January 1944

Selkirk

Capt. G. E. Instone M.M. lectured on escape from a German P.O.W. Camp to all Officers W.Os. and Sgts. at STOBS. Spectators for Exercise FIZZLE left this evening for the north. They will be spectators at 185 Br. Inf. Div. Exercise.

28 January 1944

Selkirk

H.Q. Coy. on Dingleton Range.

29 January 1944

Selkirk

Training normal.

30 January 1944

Selkirk

Sunday Services as usual. The A/Tk. Pln. took part in the Bde. Competition.

31 January 1944

Selkirk

Training of Bn. Intelligence Section reserves commenced.

01 February 1944

Selkirk

Ex TWISTGRIP. A Motor Cycle trial for all Units in the Bde. Two teams from each unit participated an Officers Team and an O.Rs. Team. The O.Rs. Team obtained 3rd place.

02 February 1944

Selkirk

Training under Coy arrangements. Soccer Bn v 2 Mx in the Div Cup resulted in a win for the Bn. 8-2.

03 February 1944

Selkirk

Nothing to report. The Div Concert Party visited Selkirk in the evening.

04 February 1944

Selkirk

Nothing to report training normal.

05 February 1944

Selkirk

To-day the Bn attended a rehearsal in preparation for the visit of General Montgomery.

06 February 1944

Selkirk

Inspection of the Bde by General Montgomery at Bde H.Q. After the inspection the Bde broke ranks and the General gave a short address.

07 February 1944

Selkirk

Commencement of new leave period. HQ on the Gas Chamber. A Coy on Dingleton Range. Commencement of training 100% reserve Pnr Pln.

08 February 1944

Selkirk

Training under Coy arrangements. S Coy on the Gas Chamber. Rugby Bn v 2 R.U.R. in the 4th round on the Div Cup won 11 pts to 3.

09 February 1944

Selkirk

A Coy on assault boat landing at Abbotsford.

10 February 1944

Selkirk

The 33rd Fd Regt. R.A. were firing in the A[?]HKIRK area and a [?] of each Coy had practice in sending back shelling reports.

11 February 1944

Selkirk

Ex BRIDGELAND I see appendix A.

12 February 1944

Selkirk

Conclusion of the Reserve Intelligence Cadre. Soccer Bn v 148 R.A.C. won 3-2.

13 February 1944

Selkirk

Sunday Church Services as usual.

14 February 1944

Selkirk

D Coy on leave. Remainder of Coys on normal training. The R.A.P. moved to MAXPOFFLE.

15 February 1944

Selkirk

Nothing to report.

16 February 1944

Selkirk

Nothing to report.

17 February 1944

Selkirk

Training normal. Conclusion of the N.C.Os Cadre.

18 February 1944

Selkirk

Ex BRIDGELAND II. A similar exercise to Bridgeland I but with supporting arms. B Coy proceed on leave. Hockey Bn v Selkirk Ladies won 4-3.

19 February 1944

Selkirk

Soccer Bn v 10 I.T.C. at EDINBURGH won 3-2.

20 February 1944

Selkirk

Church Services normal. A Coy left for Ex ANCHOR they will do enemy for the 185 Bde.

21 February 1944

Selkirk

Coys on normal training. Motor Cyclists attend training films in HAWICK. [?] A Coy left for Ex ANCHOR they will do enemy for the 185 Bde.

22 February 1944

Selkirk

Normal training nothing to report.

23 February 1944

Selkirk

Cloth Model Study for Coy Comdrs.

24 February 1944

Selkirk

M/cs commence training for Ex CONROD.

25 February 1944

Selkirk

Training Normal. Lieut F.B. Hindmarsh the Bn I.O. left to join HQ 2nd Army as interrogation Officer. Ex FOURDRIVE see appendix D.

26 February 1944

Researching

A Coy return from North.

27 February 1944

Researching

Sunday Church Services as usual.

28 February 1944

Researching

Nothing to report. The Officers held a Dance in the Tower HAWICK.

29 February 1944

Researching

Nothing to report.

01 March 1944

Researching

Normal Training held up by bad weather --- heavy snow. Cpls Dance.

02 March 1944

Researching

Preparations for Army Commander's Visit.

03 March 1944

Researching

Visit of Army Commander.

04 March 1944

Researching

Semi-final of Div Soccer Cup V Suffolks played in Hawick. Won 3-1.

05 March 1944

Researching

Church services as usual.

06 March 1944

Researching

Cadre for Junior M.C.Os run by Lieut. J. Gray begins. A and B Coys minelaying and lifting competition.

07 March 1944

Researching

A Coy on leave. C Coy still on leave.

08 March 1944

Researching

Training under Coy arrangements.

09 March 1944

Researching

Briefing for Ex CAIRN in Victoria Hall with Map enlargement and cloth model ATk T.E.W.T. Bde M/C Trial Ex CONROD. The Bn. came in second the winning team rode MATCHLESS M/Cs.

10 March 1944

Researching

Ex CAIRN - Bn. Exercise in CLOVENFORDS AREA. See Appendix.

11 March 1944

Researching

Interior Economy under Company arrangements. A/Tk Pl on SHANKEND RANGE.

12 March 1944

Researching

Church services as usual.

13 March 1944

Researching

A/Tk Pl on SHANKEND RANGE.

14 March 1944

Researching

A/Tk Pl firing on SHANKEND RANGE.

15 March 1944

Researching

Training under Coy arrangements. Lt. Col. G.D. Renny assumes Command vice Lt. Col. F.W. Johnston w.e.f. 15th March 1944.

16 March 1944

Researching

Nothing to report - Rugger practice for test[?].

17 March 1944

Researching

Training under Coy arrangements - Practice for Semi-final Div Rugger Cup.

18 March 1944

Researching

Conference and preliminary orders for Ex CAIRN II.

19 March 1944

Researching

Rugger Match V Kelso (away) won 24-0. Sunday services. Preparation for Ex CAIRN II.

20 March 1944

Researching

Ex CAIRN II. See appendix.

21 March 1944

Researching

Road party moves up NORTH.

22 March 1944

Researching

ATTACK T.E.W.T. for Officers on present operational role. Trucks move up North.

23 March 1944

Researching

Recapitulatory Conference on Ex CAIRN II.

24 March 1944

Researching

Preparation for Ex LEAPYEAR.

25 March 1944

Researching

M/C Party moves up North. Part of marching personnel move also[?].

26 March 1944

Researching

Remainder of Bn. taking part in Ex LEAPYEAR moves NORTH.

27 March 1944

Researching

Ex LEAPYEAR. Two in Camps 5 and 8[?].

28 March 1944

Researching

Ex LEAPYEAR [?] continued.

29 March 1944

Researching

Nothing recorded

30 March 1944

Researching

Nothing recorded

31 March 1944

Researching

Ex finished. Main body returns.

01 April 1944

Researching

Road party returned from Ex LEAPYEAR.

02 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

Advance party left for Ex HANDS UP.

03 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

C.Os conference for all Officers and N.C.Os on Ex LEAPYEAR. Bn Rugger Team beat 2nd South Lancs 8-3 in the semi-final of the Divisional Rugby Cup.

04 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

Nothing to report.

05 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

R Company formed under Capt. W. Burns.

06 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

Nothing to report.

07 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

Preparation for Ex HANDS UP.

08 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

Preparation continue for Ex HANDS UP.

09 April 1944

Farnham, Hants

Road party left for Ex HANDS UP. Church Services for remainder of Bn.