War Diary: 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers

Month and year: August 1944

The August 1944 diary of the 1st Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers records fighting around Montisanger, Vire, Viessoix, and Flers during the Allied breakout from Normandy. After early heavy casualties in attacks on strong German positions, the battalion advanced as the enemy withdrew, before ending the month refitting and training for future operations.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1318

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The 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers are mentioned in 1 other war diaries from August 1944.

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Page 1 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
France	1	Minden Day. The day was spent settling in at the new area.
		A party went off to spend the day at 3 Div Club, and the Pipe Band played in the afternoon. In the evening a percentage of
		the Bn attended an ENSA concert at Bde HQ. A draft of 3 Offrs and 100 ORs chiefly from the Border Regt. arrived. The Bn
		was standing by to move, but later word came through that this would not take place before the next day.
	2	The Bn moved by transport to area S.W. of LONGRAYE (7766-)	APPX. 'A'
		and arrived about 2030 hrs. A quiet night was spent.
	3	The Bn was at short notice to move but late in the
		evening orders were received to move the following morning. Our own arty were active during the day, and allied aircraft
		continuously passed over the area.
	4	Bn moved by TCV to area N. of FORET D'EVEQUE (644511)
		and remained at short notice to move. This area was quiet with no enemy shelling or bombing.	APPX "B"

	5	No enemy activity in area. Reinforcements (21 ORS) arrived in the afternoon. Recce party left and preparations
		for capture of MONTISANG ER were made.

Page 2 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	6		Bn moved out in TCVs at 0500 hrs and arrived at assembly area 672379 at 0700 hrs. The 'O' Group moved to S.L. at 0815
			and the attack with "C" Coy on left and "D" Coy on right commenced at 0845 hrs. By 0955 hrs MONTISANGER was occupied
			without opposition. Patrols were sent out to the main road and river S of PISSOT. Two bridges (675340) 666340) reported
			blown. An attack on positions S of the river (sqs 6734, 6735)
			was ordered at 1700 hrs to start at 1800 hrs. This attack was carried out with "C" Coy on the right and "A" Coy on the left. The two coys reached their first objective and pushed on but
			were pinned down by enemy MG fire from flanks when approaching
			the railway (sq 6737) These two coys made this adv against fairly heavy opposition, almost completely unsupported. Owing
			to the blowing of the br (675340) and the speed with which the attack had to be prepared, it was not possible to get any
			sp arms to them except one tp of tanks which got over late in the evening, and, by a very gallant attack, saved the situation
			on "C" Coy front. One complete pl of "A" Coy is missing from this operation and many offrs and ORs of both coys were
			killed and wounded. Late that night orders were received from Bde that the Bn was to consolidate - if necessary withdrawing.
			The withdrawal of the two fwd coys was carried out and by first light the Bn was in position astride the bridge at
			675340
	7		Patrols were sent out and reported enemy still occupying position of previous day. Enemy shelling and mortaring of Bn
			area occurred at midday. A later patrol reported no enemy in wood 684335. Further shelling and mortar fire occurred later
			in the day. One Casuality.

Page 3 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	7		Bn left for conc area after advance party from the Suffolk Regt arrived, and the take over was done Coy by Coy.

	8		Bn HQ was established in LA GROUDIERE663342 with Coys in
			a fairly small area, Apart from a short shelling in the early evening a quiet day was spent. The Bn moved out to assembly
			area at 2130 hrs. 2 Lincolns moved In to take over. By midnight Bn HQ was established at LA PLANCHE (648338)
	9		With 2 RUR on our left a two Bn attack on main road from
			VIRE was commenced at 0600 hrs. By 0755 all Coys had taken their objectives and shortly after the Bn consolidated in area
			just W of YAUDRY (655316). A patrol by "B" Coy captured four enemy, identified as belonging to a xxxxxxxxx motorised Pnr Bn
			on special service. Two patrols sent out. The first was fired on when approaching ROULLOURS and MG fire and mortar
			increased as it neared the village. The MG fire was located in area of pt 262 (673303). The second patrol reported enemy in
			LA BOIVINIERE 6531, possibly a tank or SP gun. A later patrol reported the above village deserted and pin pointed SP gun at
			656309. A further patrol was sent out to knock out the SP gun. This patrol failed to find the gun.

Page 4 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	10		Early in the morning enemy shelling just outside area
			occurred at intervals for about an hour and a half. Towards midday splinters from two rounds fired by an enemy S.P. set
			fire to the farm building at Bn HQ. This blazed rapidly and was soon completely burnt out. Practically no kit or equipment
			was lost. Slight enemy shelling continued at intervals. At 1700 hrs two patrols were sent out each pl strength, under arty
			and mortar covering fire. The first reported the orchard at LE FAY657307 clear of enemy. The second patrol came under
			heavy mortar fire on route to ROULLOURS and did not enter the village. This patrol had one casualty.
	11		An attack towards TINCHEBRAY by 3 Br Inf Div with Gds Armd
			Div on the left and the 2nd US Div on the right started at 0900 hrs. 9 Inf Bde was in reserve and the Bn remained in its area
			at 4 hrs notice to move. Towards the end of the day it became apparent that the 8th and 185 Inf Bdes had not got on as far
			as they had expected owing chiefly to mines and the difficult nature of the bocage country. By the evening 185 Inf Bde were
			definitely held up by strong enemy MG and Mortar positions on Hill 312 6929. The Bn received a warning order that it would
			have to attack this the next morning if it had not yet been taken.
	12		By 0900 hrs it was reported that Pt 312 had already been taken and that 8 and 185 Inf Bdes were pushing on towards
			TINCHEBRAY . The Bn therefore remained in reserve at short notice to move. Several enemy shells fell around area about
			midday, but apart from these the day was quiet.

Page 5 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	13		The Bn was ordered to take over the village and the high
			ground at VIESSOIX, which protected the left flank of the Bde, from two Coys of 1 Gren. Gds. who had had a hard fight to take
			it two days before. The advance party for the move to VIESSOIX left at 0630 hrs and the remainder of the Bn followed
			an hour later. Bn HQ was established at 698317. Slight enemy shelling after midday but otherwise a quiet day. At night 3
			deserters came into our positions. Patrols were sent out.
	14		Patrols reported no enemy except at 707316 where two sentries
			were heard. Towards evening a prisoner was taken at 693320, identified as 10 Coy 21 SS Pgr (10 SS Pz Div) Patrols were
			sent out at night and one reported tank movement in wood 722312.
	15		Night patrols reported small arms fire at 728323 and movement of MT at 732310. Extensive patrols during the day found wide area
			clear of enemy. Three casualties were caused by an enemy A/P mine in the Carrier PL area. No enemy shelling of area.

	16		It has now become evident that the enemy rearguards (composed of 3 Para Div) who have been opposing us have completely
			withdrawn. Early in the morning the Bde was moved up towards TINCHEBRAY to be ready to move fwd behind the Div Recce
			Regt which was directed on FLERS. By 1100 hrs the Recce Regt had reached the outskirts of FLERS which they reported held only by
			very small rearguards.

Page 6 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	16		The Bn moved up to an area just WEST of LANDISACQ where
			it took up a def posn, although it was evident that all enemy tps had already withdrawn well beyond this area.
	17		The Bn was ordered to sweep 8. large area of country SOUTH
			of FLERS. Companies were taken out in 3 ton lorries and at 1100 hrs the sweeping started. A holiday atmosphere was
			ahead, and the men and vehicles were soon covered with flowers pressed on them by the French. Five prisoners only
			were found although the area included the large FORET D'HALOUZE. An enemy gun park and three tks - one of them a Panther in
			good condition were found. It was evident that a fairly large proportion of German armour had been this area in its retreat
			towards the gap between FALAISE and ARGENTAN.
	18		A quiet day. In the evening the pipe band played retreat.
	19		All Coys went out on a short route march along with Coy
			Pipers. The rest of the day was quiet.
	20		Advance party left to recce new area in the vicinity of
			LA CHAPELLE AU MOINE at 0645 hrs. Main body arrived at Bn HQ 851161 at 1215 hrs. The rest of the day was spent getting
			the troops settled in the new area. An invitation was extended to all RCs in the Battalion to attend Church Service at the
			local Church.

Page 7 of 8

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
21	The Bn carried out special training for an assault river crossing operation, using the equipment as follows :-
	(a) Class 9 FBE Bridge	APPX "C"
	(b) " 9 Close Support Raft (c) Storm boats.
	This trg was designed for an assault crossing of the SEINE.
	Owing to recent news bulletins, however, it does not appear probable that this will be necessary.

22	General training under Coy arrangements was carried out. The Div Concert Party performed at 'A' Echelon. A party left
	for a 3 day stay at the Corps Rest Camp.
23	Pl and Section trg. A draft of 3 officers and 60 ORs arrived
	Some of these were members of this BN who had been wounded. The majority however were from the Royal Scots, and were posted
	to "A" Coy.

Page 8 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	24 - 27		The Bn Intelligence Section under the IO left to carry out
			a search for destroyed enemy equipment in an area round FALAISE. The Bn remained in the same position and carried out Coy and Pl
			training under Coy arrangements. Training with tanks was also carried out. The 4th Gren Gds co-operating. Bn Church Parade
			was held on Sunday followed by a march past with the Pipe Band. The Bn I Sec returned from their search with good results.
	28		CO, Coy and Pl Comds carried out a recce for a night attack
			exercise.
	29		Reinforcement draft arrived of 3 offrs and 7 ORs. Night attack exercise carried was out.

	30		Bn still static. More Reinforcements arrived making the Bn up to strength in ORs. Training under Coy arrangements.

	31		Recce party left for new area in the vicinity of HAQUEVILLE NORTH EAST
			of ROUEN.

Units Referencing the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers

The following units mention the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers in their war diaries from August 1944:

253 Field Company R.E., August 1944 War Diary

Units Referenced in this war diary

The following units are mention in this war diary and have their own August 1944 war diary