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- 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers



   1st Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers embarked for France in 1939 with 3rd Infantry Division in the BEF. In May 1940 they advanced into Belgium but facing an enemy of overwhelming numers, they were ordered to withdraw. On the night of 31st May/1st June they were evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk. After a stretch on Home Defence duties in Britain, the Battalion returned to France on D-Day, 6th June 1944, landing on Queen Beach. They fought around Caen until the town capitulated, and then advanced north, fighting through Belgium and Holland to the Rhine and Bremen.

 

10th Sep 1939 Equipment

12th Sep 1939 Training

16th Sep 1939 Reliefs

16th Sep 1939 Orders

18th Sep 1939 Exercise  location map

19th Sep 1939 Visit

19th Sep 1939 Orders

20th Sep 1939 Orders

21st Sep 1939 Ammunition

21st Sep 1939 Advance Party

22nd Sep 1939 Road Party

22nd Sep 1939 Advance Party

23rd Sep 1939 Recce

23rd Sep 1939 Lack of Transport

24th Sep 1939 On the Move

25th Sep 1939 Billets

26th Sep 1939 Conference

26th Sep 1939 Billets

27th Sep 1939 Billets

28th Sep 1939 Reliefs

28th Sep 1939 Billets

28th Sep 1939 On the Move

29th Sep 1939 Billets

30th Sep 1939 Transport Issues

2nd Oct 1939 Orders

3rd Oct 1939 Advance Party

4th Oct 1939 Advance Parties

5th Oct 1939 Conference

5th Oct 1939 Orders

6th Oct 1939 Preparations

7th Oct 1939 Conference

8th Oct 1939 Rail Parties

9th Oct 1939 Divisional HQ

10th Oct 1939 Arrivals

11th Oct 1939 Espionage

12th Oct 1939 Recconaissance

13th Oct 1939 Reliefs

14th Oct 1939 Front Line

15th Oct 1939 Entrenching

16th Sep 1939 Orders

16th Oct 1939 Digging in

17th Oct 1939 Difficulties

18th Oct 1939 News

19th Oct 1939 Poor Weather

20th Oct 1939 Recconaissance

21st Oct 1939 Recreation

22nd Oct 1939 Recreation

23rd Oct 1939 Front Line

24th Oct 1939 Recconaissance

25th Oct 1939 Visit

26th Oct 1939 Shortages

27th Oct 1939 Conference

28th Oct 1939 Work Required

29th Oct 1939 Exercise

30th Oct 1939 Exercise

31st Oct 1939 Exercise

14th of November 1939 Cutting of Brushwood

14th of November 1939 Preparations

16th of November 1939 Preparations

17th of November 1939 Preparations

18th of November 1939 Memorandum

20th of November 1939 Defences

22nd of November 1939 Air raid

23rd of November 1939 Conference

24th of November 1939 Recce

26th of November 1939 Church parades

27th of November 1939 Conference

30th of November 1939 Bad weather

3rd December 1939 Air Raid Warning

8th December 1939 Exercise

13th December 1939 Exercise

14th December 1939 Exercise

15th December 1939 Exercise

19th December 1939 Exercise

20th December 1939 Exercise

21st December 1939 Exercise

22nd December 1939 Cleaning up

27th December 1939 Conference

29th December 1939 Visits

31st December 1939 Recce

14th January 1940 Message

16th January 1940 Preparations

18th January 1940 Orders

19th January1940 Orders

19th January1940 Instructions

30th January 1940 Orders

22nd February 1940 Exercise

23rd February 1940 Exercise

26th February 1940 Exercise

1st March 1940 Moves

1st March 1940 Instructions

1st March 1940 Orders

1st March 1940 Orders

2nd March 1940 Orders

2nd March 1940 Operational Order

5th March 1940 Conference

6th March 1940 Exercise

7th March 1940 Exercise

7th March 1940 Exercise

7th March 1940 Orders

8th March 1940 Move

10th March 1940 Training

11th March 1940 Conference

20th March 1940 Conference

20th March 1940 Precautions

22nd March 1940 3rd Division H.Q.

25th March 1940 Orders Amended

25th March 1940 3rd Division H.Q. Operation Instruction No 0754

25th March 1940 3rd Division H.Q. Operation Instruction No 0754

25th March 1940 Orders

25th March 1940 Orders

26th March 1940 Operational Order

28th March 1940 Conference

29th March 1940 HQ Moves

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Exercise

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Route

30th March 1940 Instructions

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Exercise

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Orders

31st March 1940 On the Move

1st April 1940 Orders

1st May 1940 Visit

1st May 1940 Orders

2nd May 1940 Operational Instructions

6th May 1940 Defences

7th May 1940 Training

8th May 1940 Experiments

9th May 1940 Instructions

10th May 1940 On the Move

10th May 1940 Orders

10th May 1940 Air Raids

10th May 1940 Advance

10th May 1940 3 Div Operation Order 13.

11th May 1940 On the Move

11th May 1940 Move

11th May 1940 Line Established

11th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

12th May 1940 Holding the Line

12th May 1940 Petrol

12th May 1940 In Position

12th May 1940 On the Move

13th May 1940 Gaps

13th May 1940 Movement

13th May 1940 Rumours

13th of May 1940 Louvain  location map

13th May 1940 Refugees

13th May 1940 Into Position

14th May 1940 Shelling

14th May 1940 Contact

14th May 1940 Shelling

14th May 1940 In Action

15th May 1940 In action

15th May 1940 Civilians

15th May 1940 In Action

15th May 1940 Civilians Evacuated

16th May 1940 On the March

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

17th May 1940 On the Move

17th May 1940 Withdrawal

17th May 1940 Congested Roads

17th May 1940 Withdrawal

17th May 1940 Orderrs

18th May 1940 In Defence

18th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

18th May 1940 Enemy Penetrate

18th May 1940 Heavy Fighting

19th May 1940 Withdrawal

19th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

19th May 1940 Withdrawal

19th May 1940 Withdrawal

20th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

20th May 1940 Enemy Attacks

20th May 1940 Supplies

21st May 1940 Supplies

21st May 1940 Shelling

22nd May 1940 Ammunition in Short Supply

22nd May 1940 Orders

22nd May 1940 Withdrawal

23rd May 1940 Withdrawal

23rd May 1940 New Positions

23rd of May 1940 Withdrawal

24th May 1940 Short Rations

24th May 1940 Attack Made

25th May 1940 Cellars

26th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

26th May 1940 Field Ambulances Move

26th May 1940 Enemy Aircraft

25th May 1940 Rations

26th May 1940 On the Move

27th May 1940 In Reserve

27th May 1940 Defensive Positions

27th May 1940 New Line Occupied

28th May 1940 Move

28th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

28th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

28th May 1940 Orders

29th May 1940 Withdrawal

29th May 1940 Vehicles Destroyed

29th May 1940 Withdrawal

29th May 1940 In Action

30th May 1940 Delays

30th May 1940 La Panne

30th May 1940 Policy

31st May 1940 Withdrawal

31st May 1940 Embarkation  location map

31st May 1940 Air Attacks  location map

1st Jun 1940 On the Beaches

14th June 1940 Inspection

28th Apr 1942 Exercise

29th Apr 1942 Exercise

1st Jun 1944 Ready to Move

1st Jun 1944 Preparations

2nd Jun 1944 Ready to Move

3rd Jun 1944 Ready to Move

4th Jun 1944 Embarkation

5th Jun 1944 Embarkation

6th June 1944 In Action

6th Jun 1944 Assault

7th Jun 1944 Patrols

8th Jun 1944 Mortar Fire

9th Jun 1944 Mortar Fire

9th June 1944 In Action

9th of June 1944 Attack Made  location map

10th Jun 1944 Consolidation

11th Jun 1944 Prisoners

12th Jun 1944 Patrols  location map

13th Jun 1944 Heavy Guns

14th Jun 1944 Shelling

15th Jun 1944 Exchange of Fire

16th Jun 1944 Enemy Active

17th Jun 1944 Shelling

18th Jun 1944 Patrols

19th Jun 1944 Shelling

20th Jun 1944 Aircraft Downed  location map

20th of June 1944 On the move  location map

21st Jun 1944 Under Shellfire

22nd Jun 1944 Preparations

23rd Jun 1944 Artillery Active

24th Jun 1944 Shelling

25th Jun 1944 Shelling

26th Jun 1944 Artillery Active

27th Jun 1944 Shelling

28th Jun 1944 Preparations

29th Jun 1944 Prisoners

30th Jun 1944 Reliefs Completed

1st Jul 1944 Artillery Active

2nd Jul 1944 Shelling

3rd Jul 1944 Artillery Active

4th Jul 1944 Patrols

5th Jul 1944 Shelling

6th Jul 1944 Heavy Shelling

7th Jul 1944 Bombers

10th Jul 1944 In Action  


THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944

Troops of 1st Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers, 9th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, firing a captured Hotchkiss machine gun during street fighting in Caen, 10th July 1944. © IWM (B 6918)



10th Jul 1944 In Action

6th of August 1944 Relieving duties  location map

8th of August 1944 Plans for attack

13th of August 1944 Move

18th of September 1944 Orders Issued  location map

19th of September 1944 Crossing the Escaut Canal

20th Sep 1944 In Support  location map

23rd Sep 1944 Advance

24th Sep 1944 In Action

24th Sep 1944 In Action

25th Sep 1944 Artillery Support

27th Sep 1944 On the Move

29th Sep 1944 Moves

30th Sep 1944 Moves

1st Oct 1944 In Action

1st Oct 1944 On the Move

3rd Oct 1944 Reliefs

8th Oct 1944 Targets Engaged

9th Oct 1944 Reliefs Completed

12th Oct 1944 Attack Made

13th Oct 1944 Attack Made

13th Oct 1944 Attack Made  location map

14th Oct 1944 Advance Continues

15th Oct 1944 Flank Secured

17th Oct 1944 Gains

18th Oct 1944 Defences

19th Oct 1944 Holding the Line

19th of October 1944 OO No. 10  location map

4th of November 1944 Move  location map

8th of November 1944 Orders  location map

13th of November 1944 Move Order No 13  location map

14th of November 1944 Move & Visit  location map

18th of November 1944 Move Order No. 14  location map

19th Nov 1944 Reliefs

22nd of November 1944 Orders  location map

23rd Nov 1944 Attack Made

23rd of November 1944 Altered plans  location map

29th of November 1944 O.O. No 12  location map

30th of November 1944 Operational Order No 13  location map

1st of December 1944 Failed attack  location map

3rd of December 1944 Reliefs  location map

5th of December 1944 Houses Cleared  location map

19th of December 1944 Orders  location map

5th of January 1945 Op Instruction No. 17  location map

8th of January 1945 Op Instruction No. 18   location map

14th of January 1945 Church services & entertainment  location map

15th of January 1945 Officers' Day  location map

16th of January 1945 Entertainment  location map

24th of January 1945 Enemy contact  location map

26th of February 1945 Attack preparations  location map

27th of February 1945 Attack  location map

1st Mar 1945 Orders  location map

1st of March 1945 Preparations for attack  location map

2nd Mar 1945 In Action

2nd of March 1945 Attack  location map

3rd Mar 1945 Prisoners  location map

3rd of March 1945 Attack  location map

19th of March 1945 Enemy cross river  location map

28th of March 1945 Advance  location map

29th of March 1945 Advance continued  location map

7th of April 1945 Advance continued  location map

17th of April 1945 Plan for advance  location map

19th of April 1945 Attack  location map

25th of April 1945 Attack   location map

9th of June 1945 Concentration Camp Commander Captured  location map


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Armstrong Henry Wilson. Pte.
  • Boucher Edward Robert. Cpl
  • Butchart Arthur.
  • Colley Stanley Alexander. Pte. (d.19th July 1944)
  • Conroy Frederick William. Pte.
  • Cotterell William Arthur. Pte.
  • O'Donnell John. Pte
  • Plater George. Pte.
  • Steadman Jonathan Charles. Pte.
  • Thompson John. Pte (d.28th February 1945)
  • Yule George Henry. Pte. (d.27th May 1940)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers from other sources.



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Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers?


There are:1645 items tagged 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Pte. Henry Wilson Armstrong 6th Btn. Border Regiment

Henry Armstrong (driving) in Belgium

Henry Armstrong and Tommy Sloane, 1st Battalion KOSB in_Palestine

Henry Armstrong 1st Battalion KOSB in_Palestine

My father Henry Armstrong was in the 6th Battalion, Border Regiment, which was of part of No. 10 Beach Group. He later transferred to 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was wounded near Bremen but later rejoined his unit and advanced to the Rhine.

He began preparing to land at 04:10 on D-Day, the 6th June 1944. At 04:10 on the 6th June 1999, 55 years later, he opened his eyes, looked at his family for the last time, and went to sleep forever. This was recorded on his death certificate by the doctor, who was unaware of the history. Remarkable. I am so proud of him and all those who went so bravely for us.

Len Armstrong



Pte John "Jock" O'Donnell 1st Btn Kings Own Scottish Borderers

John (Jock) O'Donnell served with the 1st Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers in WW2. He died in 1977.

Aimiee Naomi williams



Pte John Thompson 1st Btn. Kings Own Scottish Borders (d.28th February 1945)

John Thompson was the 19 year old son of Elizabeth Glendenning from Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Gary Mackinnon



Pte. William Arthur Cotterell 1st Btn. Kings Own Scottish Borderers

William Arthur Cotterell

KOSB hat

Private William Cottrell is believed to have served with 1st Kings Own Scottish Borderers in 3rd Division and 15th Scottish Division with 6th Battalion.

Jane Lomax



Pte. George Henry Yule 1st Btn. King's Own Scottish Borderers (d.27th May 1940)

George Yule served with 1st Btn. King's Own Scottish Borderers.

Amanda



Pte. George Plater 1st Btn. King's Own Scottish Borderers

George Plater fought from the early D Day landings through Europe until he was wounded at the battle of the Bulge.










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