Hogg | Geoff
Biography
Robert Geoffrey Hogg (known as Geoff) was born in Westmorland on 15 June 1925 to Ernest E Hogg and Margaret A Fothergill who had married in 1922 in Westmorland. Ernest had been born on 1 August 1900 in Morecambe and Margaret had been born on 14 March 1899 in Warcop, Westmorland.
In September 1939, Ernest and Margaret were living at 5 King’s Crescent, Heysham, Lancashire with Geoff and his older sister Kathleen. Ernest was working as a General Farm Labourer for a Farm Builder. Kathleen and Geoff were both Shop Assistants – a fruit shop in Geoff’s case. His mother was shown as incapacitated.
Military career
Geoff enlisted on 15 July 1943 (Service No. 14657689). He was initially at No. 69 Primary Training Wing at Formby. He transferred to the South Lancashire Regiment on 25 August 1943 and was posted to No 19 Infantry Training Centre, still at Formby. He was assigned to the 9th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment on 16 November 1943. He spent a brief period in Ireland from late November 1943 to mid January 1944. On 1 April 1944 he was transferred to the 6thBattalion of the Border Regiment. He took part in training for D-Day with this regiment, being trained as a beach group. He trained for the beach assault at Castlewellan, Northern Ireland. He sent a postcard to his mother showing where he was, telling her “This is the place where we are at present. It is just a village but has a dance hall and a picture house and a Fish and Chip shop.”
France
Geoff landed on D-day at 7.30 am at Jig Green on Gold beach. They were slightly off course due to strong winds, ending up at Le-Hamel. They were fired on from a Pill Box there as they ran up the beach. He remained with this group unloading everything that came over on the big ships until they were disbanded at the end of July. He therefore spent his 19th Birthday on the Normandy Beach.
King’s Own Scottish Borderers 1st Bn
After the 6 Border Regiment was disbanded, he was seconded to the 1st Battalion KOSB. The 1 KOSB had gone into the Army reserve at Bieville on 31 July. On 1 August they received reinforcements of 3 Officers and 100 Other Ranks, chiefly from the Border Regiment. This was when Geoff joined them.
They moved to near Longraye on 2 August and Foret D’Eveque on the 4th. They received a further reinforcement of 21 Other Ranks on the 5th. On 6 August they successfully occupied Montisanger without opposition. However, later that day, two companies attempted another attack on positions south of a river which was south of Pissot. They reached their first objective and pushed on but against heavy opposition with many men killed, wounded or missing. In particular, one complete platoon of “A” Coy was missing from this operation and many Officers and Other Ranks were killed and wounded. They were later ordered to withdraw from this position.
Geoff recalls going out on a reconnaissance mission in a platoon with Lt. Alan McQueen Don (Service No. 273399). Lt. Don said to Geoff “you will have to help me through this as I’ve had no infantry training”. Geoff noticed that he had a tank corps patch on his uniform. Geoff stayed very close to him after that. They came across a gap in the hedge and Lt. Don was about to cross the gap but Geoff held him back saying there could be snipers about – but Lt Don said “I will just have a quick look” – and as soon as he did a sniper shot him through the head and he fell backwards on to Geoff. They carried his body to a shallow ditch and wanted to make a cross for him with a rifle so the burial detail would see it but being an officer he only had a sidearm which they left with him. Geoff can’t remember whether or not they took his dog tags with them. Lt. Don has no known grave and was never found. He is remembered at Bayeux War Cemetery. His death is recorded on 7 August 1944. Lt Don is also recorded as being in the Border Regiment, yet Geoff was already with the 1 KOSB by then. Geoff also states that they then found themselves in no man’s land and had to stay there for 2 or 3 days with no water. He said that a couple of the soldiers drank their own urine and went a bit mad. It is possible that they were part of the platoon which went missing on 6 August but with most managing to rejoin their Battalion a few days later.
On 7 August, patrols were sent out and reported enemy still occupying the position of the previous day while a later patrol reported no enemy in a wood nearby. There was one casualty that day. Later that day the Battalion moved on to La Groudiere.
On 8 August they moved on again to La Planche. On 9 August an attack was made on the main road from Vire and they consolidated in an area near Yaudry. On 11 and 12 August the Battalion was held in reserve while other Regiments took Tinchebray. The Battalion took over the village of Viessoix the following day. On 16 August it was evident that the enemy had withdrawn and the Battalion moved up towards Tinchebray and then towards Flers. The following day the Battalion made a sweep of a large area south of Flers, finding that the enemy had largely deserted the area through the gap between Falaise and Argentan. There was a party atmosphere and men and vehicles were soon covered with flowers pressed on them by the French. A few quiet days followed.
On 20 August, the Battalion moved on to La Chapelle Au Moine. While here there was scope for some relaxation and further training. More reinforcements arrived, bringing the Battalion up to strength in Other Ranks. They remained in this area until 3 September when they travelled around 147 miles to Hacqueville, south west of Rouen. They were still in reserve. A move to nearby Etrepangy was completed on 6 September where again there was scope for training and relaxation.
For your interest and more information about KOSB1st in Normandy please have a look at Richard Grayson’s webpage. Richard’s granddad David Morrison also served with KSOB1st during WW2 David served with the KOSB through Normandy, Belgium, Holland and into Bremen in Germany.
Belgium
On 16 September, the Battalion moved first to Soignes in Belgium, then on the following day to an area South of the Meuse Escaut Canal near Lille St Hubert. On 19 September they supported the 2 RUR and 2 Lincolns on an assault crossing of the canal. The two assault battalions made successful crossings, though with heavy casualties. The 1 KOSB were then ordered to cross and to protect the right flank of the 2 Lincolns, which they achieved with few casualties. The next objective was to establish a firm base on a nearby railway line and then advance to the village of Achel. They succeeded in this, but with some opposition. On 20 September, it was found that the enemy had withdrawn to the east.
Holland
On 21 September the Battalion entered the Netherlands from Belgium at Budel, where the troops were given a great welcome by the inhabitants. They moved on to Liessel on 24 September where they undertook patrols of the area east of the Deurne Canal. On 28 September the Battalion took up positions further north covering a cross roads at Milheeze, then on 1 October they moved further north again to St Hubert where they were again very well received by the inhabitants. They remained here until 12 October carrying out patrols but also undergoing training and having time to relax a little. This included a football match on St Hubert’s football field against the 6 KOSB, which they lost 4-1. The Pipe Band played at half time and at the end of the match.
On 12 October they moved to an area just west of St Anthonis. On this day the 8th Brigade attacked towards Overloon and by 1700 hours the 1st Suffolks had captured the town and had taken up a position just to the South of it. On 13 to 15 October the Battalion took part with other Battalions in clearing woods to the west and south of Overloon. During this action 3 men were killed and 12 were wounded. The following day the Battalion continued south through more woods, but that afternoon they were ordered to take over the positions of the 4 KSLI east of Overloon in the Smakt area. During the take over one man was killed and 3 wounded by Nebelwerfers (Moaning Minnies).
They remained in this position until 4 November. From here, they patrolled the area west of the railway line and observed movements of Germans on the east side and targeted them. They were often heavily shelled and mortared but also made good use of the Artillery to retaliate. Mines on the railway crossing points prevented attempts to cross the railway. On one occasion, on 22 October, when a platoon did cross to see if the enemy had withdrawn from the houses in Smakt, they were surprised by enemy machine guns concealed in the houses. One officer and 19 other ranks were presumed killed or taken prisoner with only 5 being able to escape. In this period 33 men were wounded, 10 were killed and 21 were missing.
At some point, while Geoff was in action in Overloon, he went into a building which had sustained damage which appeared to be a green grocers. There were tulip bulbs all over the floor. He gathered some up, eventually posting them to his father in Morecambe who was a gardener. The bulbs have come up in that garden every year since.
He also recalled that, one day, he and two other soldiers passed a middle aged woman at a gateway to a farm who asked “would you like to come back tonight for some supper”. They said they would and later went back with rifles over their shoulders to the farmhouse. She said she had a surprise for them and then served up apple fritters – quarter inch sliced apple pieces which were battered. This was repeated the next night but they said goodbye as they were moving on and the lady gave him a postcard with her address on it. The address was Albert Bloemen, Heikant C 291 which is now Heikant 7. This lies just north east of Overloon. Geoff was so touched by her kindness shown towards them that after he was demobbed he wrote to her thanking her but never got a reply. The postcard showed Overloon Church on Venrayseweg. He marked the card where they had met enemy fire criss crossing the road at one point.
On 4 November the Battalion handed over to the 2 Royal Ulster Rifles and 2 Lincolns and moved to just outside St Anthonis. Here the routine was 48 hours rest and sleep, and the remaining 72 hours spent in cleaning weapons, ammunition and kit and checking stores and equipment. Some enjoyed 48 hours in Brussels, and most could attend the cinema in Mill.
They remained near St Anthonis until 9 November when they moved back to the Overloon area. On 14 November they moved back into positions west of the railway line in the area of Smakt which were held by the 2 Lincolns. The take over began before first light when they took over exposed forward positions and standing patrols thought to be under enemy observation. The take over was completed by 1415 hrs. However Corporal John McGregor Drummond was killed by a sniper in the Farm at 794328. This was the current property named Koudenhoek 2 Holthees.
Geoff was able to shed more light on this incident. He was in a slit trench with Corporal Drummond whom he had known for some time before this incident. Cpl Drummond told Geoff to bail out the water in the trench while he got some straw from a nearby barn to put in the bottom of their trench, making it more comfortable. He thought he would be OK as there had been no reports of enemy activity in the area. Geoff saw Corporal Drummond leave the barn laden with straw under both arms – then fall after hearing rifle shots. Geoff knew there was a sniper about and immediately ran for help zig zagging any snipers that may be out there as he had been trained to do, then dived into bramble bushes cutting himself all over. Smoke was sent into the area where Drummond had fallen but when the stretcher bearers went in, the sniper (whom they never found) started firing through the smoke at them without success.
Medics looked after Geoff and gave him some brandy. He asked how Drummond was and was told not to worry about him and that he was OK. Geoff was sent back to his trench – minus the straw! It was only in 2014 when Geoff’s son did some research on the history of the KOSB that he found that Corporal Drummond had died that day and is buried in Overloon Cemetery. Geoff couldn’t believe that he had been killed by the sniper and thought he’d survived the war.
John Drummond is buried at Overloon War Cemetery. Read here the biography of John Drummond.
The Battalion remained in the same position until 19 November when the 2nd East Yorkshires took over from it. They moved the following day to just east of Overloon then on to an area south west of Venray and near Weverslo. On 23 November, the Battalion took part in a successful attack eastwards from Veulen towards the Venray to Venlo road.
On 25 November other Battalions succeeded in moving further east, capturing Tienraij, Eikelenbosh and Swolgen. On 29 and 30 November the Battalion moved east of Venray into Zandoek, Oostrum, Oorlo and the western half of Wanssum. On 3 December they moved on to Geijsteren and Kasteel. Time in this area was spent patrolling and observing movements on the east of the Meuse. Flooding was extensive on the eastern bank of the river. On some occasions, enemy were found on the west side of the Meuse.
On 22 December the Battalion moved to Meterik, just east of Horst. Here, a programme of entertainment was laid on for Christmas, including film shows and a Battalion Variety Concert. Christmas dinner was served for the men – “a huge and most appetising meal, including turkey, pork and apple sauce, and plum pudding and plenty of beer”.
On 29 December, the Battalion moved to take over from the 2 Warwickshires between Grubbenvorst and Houthuizen, just north of Venlo on the west bank of the Meuse. Again, time was spent patrolling and observing activities on the east bank. On 3 January it was reported that Moaning Minnies were heard at night – the first time since the beginning of December. As previously, enemy were sometimes encountered on the west bank and the Battalion suffered from some shelling. On 10 January there were reports of enemy boats in the river.
Following the incident on 14 November in which Corporal Drummond was killed, Geoff Hogg had moved on with his unit so would be based between Grubbenvorst and Houthuizen on the night of 11 January, 1945. He went on patrol in the snow wearing white camouflage fatigues with a small group looking for Germans around the river area, returning without incident in the early morning to a deserted farmhouse where they were billeted. Geoff left his pals saying he needed the loo…as he crossed the cobbled farmyard a Moaning Minnie was fired from across the River Meuse and landed very close to him in the courtyard, blowing him up in the air and landing 25 yards away, unconscious. When he came to, his white fatigues were now red as he’d suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his thigh, foot and arm. He was rushed to an airfield close by where a Dakota was waiting to take off. He was loaded with other wounded on to the ‘plane when a jeep came screeching up saying “stop don’t take off as there are places at Brussels General Hospital.” So, he was driven there and spent a long time in convalescence where for 3 months he had to have his wounds opened up to pull fragments of shrapnel and uniform from inside the wounds by tweezers. His parents were told of his injury by letter on 18 January 1945. It must have been a very worrying time for them.
Army Catering Corps
He was discharged from hospital on 30/4/1945 but then spent some time in various Reinforcement Holding Units and Transit Camps, still in North West Europe. He heard that they needed cooks in the Army Catering Corps so he took a Cook’s Course from 13 November 1945 to 6 February 1946 and joined the ACC. He worked in camps at Ostend and Leuven, ending up at Oldenburg in Germany where he remained until he returned to England on 1 August 1947, having been promoted to Acting Corporal in April that year. He told his family that he was in charge of the catering for the Allied troops that were there. Some Prisoners of War were given jobs within the kitchens. Geoff therefore always wore a sidearm throughout this period. He used to barter with prisoners. He exchanged coffee for a ship in a bottle – SMS Oldenburg – which his son still has. While talking to a section of German prisoners of war, he told the story about being blown up by a Moaning Minnie at the farmhouse near Venray. A German spoke up and said to him “that was me – we were testing a new version and I was told to fire a round off!” Geoff couldn’t believe it..what a coincidence!
After the war
Geoff was transferred to the reserves on 4 November 1947. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star and the France-German Star.
Geoff went on to marry Cicely P Riley in Lancaster in 1948. They had two sons, Adrian in 1949 and Malcolm in 1951, both in Lancaster district.
Geoff was subsequently awarded the Legion of Honour from the French Government as he is a veteran of D-Day.
He will celebrate his 100th birthday in June 2025.
Photo’s and documents
