6977819 Private Archibald Smith, 6th Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers: 08/08/1944

[Original thread title: Mystery British casualty Smith/Smyth, Scottish Regiment, Normandy]

One story my father has told me a few times relates to the first dead British soldier he saw. He said that the Micks had followed in after a Scottish Division who had been fighting in the area.

I'd like just to add a full stop to the account, so to speak, and would appreciate some help with trying to narrow it down. No other details, dates or place name in the account, naturally

The man was lying in a garden on his back and Dad said there wasn't a visible mark on him. He had mistaken the man for being asleep until he saw that his eyes were open.

Dad was so curious he quickly checked the man's AB64 before having to leave him where he was. He remembers that the details said the man's surname was Smith or Smyth. What stuck in his memory was the man was from Co. Tyrone where Dad had family too, and he'd wondered why he was in a Scottish Regiment.

The Micks arrived in Normandy a couple of weeks after D-Day.

 

Randy
The Canadians weren't the only ones to call them that.

 

Thanks Phil for your hard work.

Just looked up entry for that day in WD for 3IG, looks very likely indeed.

1944 August Tuesday 8
SOUTH of MONTCHAMP
The Bn held its positions throughout today - there was again mortar fire and S.A. “overs” which killed three men and wounded seven others. In the morning, a Bn of KOSB and a Bn of R.S.F. put in a frontal attack on ESTRY through our positions, but this was only partially successful.



3rd Battalion, Irish Guards:

• 2721894 Thomas Joseph ENGLISH, 3 Irish Guards: 08/08/1944
• 2723795 George Steward FERGUSON, 3 Irish Guards: 08/08/1944
  
• 2719388 Robert WILLIAMS, 3 Irish Guards: 08/08/1944

[Might have to somewhat qualify the "first casualty seen" bit as a result ... I know that his Pl. officer was killed by Spandaus in front of him on the 4th of that month ... perhaps this memory is preferable to any others.]

 

Anyone got access to 6KOSB War Diary etc, for that day?


Casualty Details | CWGC
PRIVATE ARCHIBALD SMITH
Service Number: 6977819
Regiment & Unit/Ship: 6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
Date of Death: Died 08 August 1944
Age 32 years old
Buried or commemorated at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY
Grave Reference: XXV. A. 3.
Location: France

 

Page 137 of Monty's Northern Legion's by Delaforce.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=50052&d=1304626824

 

CWGC entries for the 8th August:

6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
001 Link BROWN FA 14550675 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
002 Link HINDMOOR JB 3607641 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
003 Link JEFFERY ER 5618942 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
004 Link KERMACK GLP 6147959 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
005 Link LAWRENCE JBA 6985282 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
006 Link ORD J 3187557 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
007 Link PENROSE HB 14311956 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
008 Link PHILLIPS W 4384951 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
009 Link PUGH TO 4105210 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
010 Link SAVAGE P 6977554 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
011 Link SMITH A 6977819 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
012 Link SPRIGGS GE 14655824 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
013 Link WARWICK TW 3599651 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
014 Link WHELAN H 6086651 6TH BN 08/08/1944 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS

 

Thanks for that Owen.

Looks like 6th Bn of the Royal Scots Fusiliers were involved:

001 Link BOOTH CN 4927447 6TH BN 08/08/1944 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
002 Link CHALLICE RR 14649949 6TH BN 08/08/1944 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
003 Link GREEN GA 3136779 6TH BN 08/08/1944 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
004 Link HILLIER RH 6213966 6TH BN 08/08/1944 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
005 Link MILLER W 3603174 6TH BN 08/08/1944 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
006 Link TULLY GIS 2049277 6TH BN 08/08/1944 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
007 Link VELLA T 1633923 6TH BN 08/08/1944 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS

 

CSM Millar mentioned in the extract ... according to citation, he was awarded Military Medal for action on 1st July 44:

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

Name Millar, Alexander
Rank: Company Serjeant Major
Service No: 3186812
Regiment: 6 King's Own Scottish Borderers
Theatre of Combat or Operation: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Medal
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 19 October 1944
Date 1944
Catalogue reference WO 373/49

 

Ah, found another entry, slightly different number...

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Millar, Alexander
Rank: Warant Officer 11 Class
Service No: 3186162
Regiment: Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Theatre of Combat or Operation: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Cross
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 21 December 1944
Date 1944
Catalogue reference WO 373/49

 

Andy
Thanks for remembering this thread and for posting the war diary pages up.

I'm really pleased with the way this thread went. Big thanks to all who helped.

Cheers
D

 

Yes I do, the important bits fit: Surname, Co. Tyrone, Irishman in a Scottish regiment, rough timeline, general circumstances. Doubt that there'd be another candidate who'd suit the requirements and the name was found before I put up the WD extract.

Even if no one can ever be 100% certain, I know that Phil would have done a good job checking before posting, so I am happy to say that the poor man has been identified.

 

Rob
Thank you so very much for volunteering to get a photo of this headstone. Really rounds this thread off for me in a very touching way.
Cheers.