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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   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   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   31st May 1940 Air Attacks   1st Jun 1940 On the Beaches 14th June 1940 Inspection 28th Apr 1942 Exercise 29th Apr 1942 Exercise 10th May 1944 Field Firing 15th May 1944 Sport 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   10th Jun 1944 Consolidation 11th Jun 1944 Prisoners 12th Jun 1944 Patrols   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   20th of June 1944 On the move   20th Jun 1944 Planning 21st Jun 1944 Under Shellfire 22nd Jun 1944 Preparations 22nd Jun 1944 In Support 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   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   8th of August 1944 Plans for attack 13th of August 1944 Move 18th of September 1944 Orders Issued   19th of September 1944 Crossing the Escaut Canal 20th Sep 1944 In Support   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   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   4th of November 1944 Move   8th of November 1944 Orders   13th of November 1944 Move Order No 13   14th of November 1944 Move & Visit   18th of November 1944 Move Order No. 14   19th Nov 1944 Reliefs 22nd of November 1944 Orders   23rd Nov 1944 Attack Made 23rd of November 1944 Altered plans   29th of November 1944 O.O. No 12   30th of November 1944 Operational Order No 13   1st of December 1944 Failed attack   3rd of December 1944 Reliefs   5th of December 1944 Houses Cleared   19th of December 1944 Orders   5th of January 1945 Op Instruction No. 17   8th of January 1945 Op Instruction No. 18    14th of January 1945 Church services & entertainment   15th of January 1945 Officers' Day   16th of January 1945 Entertainment   24th of January 1945 Enemy contact   26th of February 1945 Attack preparations   27th of February 1945 Attack   1st Mar 1945 Orders   1st of March 1945 Preparations for attack   2nd Mar 1945 In Action 2nd of March 1945 Attack   3rd Mar 1945 Prisoners   3rd of March 1945 Attack   19th of March 1945 Enemy cross river   28th of March 1945 Advance   29th of March 1945 Advance continued   7th of April 1945 Advance continued   17th of April 1945 Plan for advance   19th of April 1945 Attack   25th of April 1945 Attack    9th of June 1945 Concentration Camp Commander Captured   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. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. Announcements 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 25 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web. 19th Nov 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible. Looking for help with Family History Research?   Please read our Family History FAQs The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers? There are:1649 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 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 Add to this record. 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 Add to this record. 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 Add to this record. Pte. William Arthur Cotterell 1st Btn. Kings Own Scottish Borderers 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 Add to this record. 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 Add to this record. 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. Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices. Links

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