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

Month and year: June 1944

The June 1944 war diary of the 1st Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers records the battalion’s landing in Normandy on D-Day and its advance inland from Hermanville-sur-Mer and Colleville-sur-Orne. In the days that followed, the battalion moved through Periers-sur-le-Dan and Le Mesnil, engaging enemy forces around Cambes and La Bijude while consolidating positions under persistent mortar, machine-gun, and artillery fire. Throughout the month the battalion carried out patrols, defensive operations, and preparations for further attacks around the Caen front, suffering casualties from shelling, sniping, and armoured activity while maintaining pressure on German positions.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1318

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The 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers are mentioned in 4 other war diaries from June 1944.

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Page 1 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1-3		Bn. in marshalling area
	4.5		Serials commenced embarkation and the operation
			was postponed for 24 hrs.
	6 (D Day)		Bn. assault scale landed between 1145 hs.
			and 1445 hrs. The move to the assembly area
			just North of HERMANVILLE SUR MER was carried
			out without incident. At 1735 the 'R' group moved
			of to COLLEVILLE SUR ORNE followed by The Bn.
			main body. After about half an hour the Bn.
			moved to ST. AUBIN 'ARQUENAY where the
			night was spent. Several prisoners were brought
			in and many papers & documents from enemy
			dug-outs, etc. were sent back
	7		At 0830 the Bn. moved to PERIERS SUR
			LE DAN where the attack on CAZELLE was

Page 2 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	7 (cont)		prepared but as 1210 CAZELLE was reported
			clear of enemy. Led by 'C' Coy the move
			to the wood just to the North East of LE
			MESNIL was accomplished. Consolidation was
			carried out. In the evening some casualties
			were caused by enemy mortar fire. Patrols
			were sent out during the night, during which
			Lient. Cranstons patrol ran up against an
			enemy heavy tank inflicting casualties on
			the crew.
	8		At 0715 hrs 2/RUR look over E. end
			of wood and the Bn. moved over to W.
			end where further consolidation was
			carried out. Enemy continued sporadic
			mortar fire without further casualties to us.

Page 3 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	9		In the morning the advance party from
			The S. Lancs. arrived to prepare to take over
			the position, this being commenced at 1530 hrs
			Bn. moved to the assembly area near LE
			MESNIL while 2/RUR put in the attack on
			CAMBES. The BDE. Comdr. was forward with 2/RUR
			with whom communication became difficult
			and the Div. Comdr. placed The Commanding
			officer in command of the Bde. On getting
			news that RUR had got so far but were
			pinned down, The Bn. put in an attack
			with two Coys forward. This met with a
			certain amount of M.G. fire and in the
			later stages enemy mortar fire which
			caused some casualties. Following the success

Page 4 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	9 (cont)		of the attack contact was made with
			2/RUR and mopping up & consolidation was
			carried out immediately.
	10		Further consolidation was carried out. During
			the day spasmodic M.G. fire and enemy
			mortar fire occurred. There was also still
			some enemy snipers active. Capt. Roynon
			Jones with two O.Rs went out on patrol
			into enemy lines but failed to return.
	11		Bn. area shelled from S.W. Enemy tanks
			seen in LA BIJUDE area and a small
			number to B Coys front. Small number of
			eneny located in A/TK ditch area (0713). 'D' Coy
			captured a prisoner identified on a Cpl
			of 12 SS Div (Hitter Jugerd) & killed two others

Page 5 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	11 (cons)		of patrol that near their forward posns.
	12		Patrols were sent out to A/TK. ditch area
			(0173) and towards LA BIJUDE. Bn. area was
			shelled by 88 mm qum in LA BIJUDE area
			causing casualties. Sniping sporadic shelling
			continued at intervals. about 20 tanks
			including Tigers were spotted at 023733 - these
			were later shelled by the arty. Shortly
			afterwards there was a short severe airburst
			shelling near Bon. Bn. HQ Capt. T.D. Sanderson &
			5 ORs being wounded & 1 OR killed. Towards
			midnight tank movement & shouting came from
			LA BIJUDE area
	13		Report of heavy enemy guns near LA
			BIJUDE believed to be shelling beaches. further

Page 6 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	13 (cont)		movements reported from area of enemy tanks,
			and a patrol returned after successfully
			blowing railway line. Lt. Drinkall was
			wounded. Two fighting patrols were organised
			but cancelled owing to inability to get
			arty. support.
	14		Patrols sent and. One was fired on by
			enemy sentry wounding the Sec. Comdr.
			but no prisoners were captured. Shells again
			fell on Bn area from direction of The
			beaches. 'D' Coy reported landing of paratroops
			(unidentified). Reinforcements arrived from 'A'
			Echelon. Occasional shelling but enemy
			sniping practically disappeared.
	15		Patrol was sent out to A/Tk ditch area (0173)

Page 7 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	15 (cont)		encountered enemy, there was an exchange
			of fire several of the enemy believed wounded
			Patrol returned safely 'D' Coy brought in
			a prisoner, shot at whilst passing in
			motor-cycle combination. Valuable documents
			were found + sent to Div. the prisoners
			companion was killed.
	16		Enemy move in 'C' Coy area early
			in morning. Own arty. laid barrage on
			area forward of 'C' Coy. and later a
			low flying attack was made by enemy
			plane. Later in evening 2 ORs were
			wounded by a burst from a Spandau
			which fired into trees near Bn. HQ. Patrols
			were sent out at night

Page 8 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	17		Two heavy explosions probably shells were
			heard early in morning, followed by
			more just before first light. Origin
			unidentified. Area of village church was
			shelled by enemy about 0540 hrs. Lorry loads
			of enemy were seen in wood 013731
			moving in Southerly direction 1 O.R. was
			wounded by enemy sniper. Own Med aty.
			knocked and enemy mortar posn in LA BIJUDE
			area after a heavy barrage.
	18		Own mortar shoot at enemy M.G.
			and Mtr. posns. fell well on target but
			damage not known The Pnr. officer, Lt.
			Duncan & 1 O.R. were wounded whilst
			working on minefield. Patrols were again

Page 9 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	18 (cont)		sent out and the one from LA BIJUDE
			reported having wounded several enemy.
	19		Bn. prepared to-go into Bde. reserve.
			and the advance left for LE MESNIL in
			preparation for the take over. Enemy
			movement was still reported from
			posn. forward of LA BIJUDE but on
			small scale. Two ORs were killed and
			1 wounded during shelling by enemy
	20		The take over from 2/RUR was completed
			and by 0640 hrs all tracked vehicles
			were in position An M.E. 109 flying
			low & fast was shot down by A/A five.
			'C' Coy. O.P. reported 6 heavy lorries in
			wood near BURON (9972)

Page 10 of 13

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
21	approx. 15 enemy shells feel in Bn. area
	damaging buildings and causing casualties
	5 OR's were killed and 11 wounded
	all buildings were evacuated and trenches
	manned.
22	Bn. 'g' section made model of ST. CONTEST	APPX. "A"
	area which was later used for
	briefing by Coys. Enemy shelling during
	day fell behind our area near wood
	(029755). 2 Med M.G's began shoot at
	1540 hrs. Large force of allied Heavy
	and Med. bombers flew over going in
	direction of CAEN. Lieut Cranston went
	out on recce patrol to ST. CONTEST area
23	Move to take over posn 2/LINCS was	APPX. "B"

Page 11 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	23 (cont)		cancelled. Own arty. was active in
			morning Pnr. RE. laid a minefield (025747)
			Lieut. Cranston again went on recce
			in ST. CONTEST area.
	24		2 Bn. snipers went to Div H.Q. for
			practical training. In the evening enemy
			shelling just outside Bn area continued
			at intervals until dark. One Mtr Pl.
			carrier was hit.
	25		Own arty. very active in early morning
			followed by enemy shelling. In the
			evening a patrol was sent out from
			LES BUISSONS to ST. CONTEST area. Enemy
			shelling recommenced towards midnight
	26		An O.P. was manned by 'g' section

Page 12 of 13

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
26 (cont)	in the Canadian sector (North Nova
	Scotia area) Own arty was active
	all day and in the evening about a
	dozen enemy shells fell in Bn. area,
	but no casualties occurred
27	Apart from enemy shelling which
	caused four casualties, three fatal, nothing
	of importance to report. The Padre held
	his usual Family worship in the R.A.P.
	in the evening
28	Bn. prepared for operation ABERLOUR	APPX. "C"
	a section of the Carrier Pl. was sent
	with tanks to help 8th Bde. attack. The
	above operation was later cancelled
	Intermittent enemy shelling during the

Page 13 of 13

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
28 (cont)	day caused four casualties at 'A'
	Echelon area. Two of these were fatal.
	Line prisoners were sent in from E.Y.
29	Advance party for the take over from	AS APPX: "B"
	2/LINCS as CAMBES left in morning.
	Bn. commenced take over from midnight
	2 deserters gave themselves up to 'B'
	Coy. O.P.
30	Take over completed Intermittent
	shelling by enemy & some mortar
	fire. Patrols sent out to area of
	GALMANCHE.

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

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