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As with all who sacrificed their lives humanity owes them a debt which can NEVER be repaid… the Merchant Navy have Tower Hill, the Royal Navy have Chatham Portsmouth, the Royal Air Force have Runneymede, and so on…. and so they should, but I feel the contribution made by the collective units of Combined Operations, and those who died during operations, has gone without commemoration for far too long. I.G.
~ Memorial Fund Raising Wall ~ This website memorial wall (below) shows progress to date with each block representing £50.00. When the wall is completed the fund will stand at an impressive £10,000. The current total is £9900 - £9300 in cash donations and an estimated £600 in sponsorships.. Bricks in the donations wall below with initials or names, gratefully acknowledge receipt of single donations of £50.00, or more in the case of larger bricks. Such donations will normally acknowledge the name of the donor but can be made in memory of a veteran. Administrative costs including postage and fees of any description are funded from other sources. 100% of your donation goes into the memorial fund.
On the 28th of April 2009 the trustees of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire approved our plans for a Combined Operations Memorial. The National and International recognition of the vital role of the Combined Operations Command in WW2, particularly during the critical years Mountbatten was in charge, will soon be realised. The date of the unveiling/dedication ceremony will be decided upon when the memorial is under construction with a definite completion date. This will happen when a new plot at the Arboretum is identified by the Arboretum Trustees and a contractor appointed. Earlier arrangements to erect the memorial in another location within the grove for completion in June 2010 did not come to fruition. Donations are still required to fully fund the project including two additional plaques not in the plans presently approved. If sufficient additional funds are received, and subject to the approval of the NMA Trustees, these plaques will be added to the memorial's standing stones. If you can help please use the 'Make a Donation' link above. Thank you. The approved design is as opposite but with the trees positioned outside the triangle in groups. This will enhance the memorial site and in the long term provide the space for the trees to mature. The top image gives the main dimensions with trees removed for clarity; the middle image is a similar view with trees in place and the bottom view gives an impression of how the memorial will look. The memorial has a spearhead shape comprising an equilateral triangle and a shaft at its southerly base. A circular Combined Operations crest in the form of a mosaic will appear in the centre of the triangle on a raised circular plinth. The plaque in the forefront on the horizontal stone will provide general information about Combined Operations and the plaque to the rear carries the dedication. [The CAD graphics courtesy of George Pitt, Alberta, Canada. Click to enlarge.] There is a high level of symbolism in the design and content of the memorial. Combined Operations drew upon the resources and best practices of the Land, Sea and Air forces - represented by 3 trees and 3 stones contained within a spear-head shape of the archetypal attack formation. The stones and heather will come from an area of Scotland where hundreds of thousands trained in amphibious landing techniques under the auspices of Combined Operations. ~ Design, Materials & Content ~ The Four Large Stones are all around 2.1m – 2.5m length and 0.9m – 1.1m in width. They come from a quarry on Loch Fyne a few miles north of Inveraray where 250,000 service personnel underwent training in ‘small craft’ amphibious landing techniques under the auspices of the Combined Operations Command. Some Commandos were also trained in this area. This ensures a strong symbolic association between the main training area and the memorial.
The three standing stones represent Land, Sea and Air Forces. Personnel from their ranks were recruited to form the Combined Operations Command. Around the standing stones Scottish heather, familiar to all who undertook training in the Highlands of Scotland, will be planted to soften the hard landscape of the stones and paving. The stones were generously donated by Danny Bonnar of Clachan Quarries, Loch Fyne, Scotland. The Trees Three tree varieties were chosen for their symbolic association with the three services... oak for the Navy, ash for Army and spruce for the RAF. Oak was used in the construction of the early wooden battle ships including HMS Victory, ash was used in the construction of wheels and limbers for the artillery, frames and wheels for field transport (RAMC and RASC lorries), pick-axe handles and the rings for rope ladders, and spruce was used in the construction of early 'stick and string' planes. We are indebted to the RN Naval Historical Branch, the RAF Historical Society and Mr Dick Stimpson for their advice in the selection of the trees.
The Plaques The memorial will have an information plaque and a dedication plaque. Both will be made of Bohus Pink granite [photo right] with gold lettering 12/13 mm tall and with the crests sandblasted into the marble and painted red and black. The plaques will be recessed into the large stones.
The Mosaic The mosaic will be contained within a 50 mm deep stainless steel band 1m in diameter. In the design (far left) the eagle represents the RAF, the Thompson machine gun represents the Army and the anchor represents the Navy. The neighbouring image shows how a mosaic with similar attributes looks. The red parts in the design will be made of vitreous glass mosaic tiles and the remainder aquatic ceramic tiles. This combination provides the best contrast between the black and red colours.
The Circular Plinth The plinth which will hold the mosaic will be 1.5m in diameter, 0.5m high and faced with stones of around 20cms to 25cms from the same source as the larger stones [photo opposite]. Those who cannot visit the physical memorial will, in time, clearly see the horizontal mosaic from Google Earth. This is likely to be the first memorial in the world whose design from the outset catered for visitors via the Internet. If anyone knows any different please let us know.
The Paved Area The paved walking area totals 14.8 sq m. It will allow easy access for
wheelchairs and buggies. The granite slabs will come in a variety of sizes from
400mm to 600mm [See the photos opposite]. They will be laid on a bed of cement
in random style. . The outer edge of the spearhead shape will comprise
Subject to funds and the approval of the National Memorial Arboretum Trustees, two additional plaques may be added to the memorial. The first is an artists impression of a typical amphibious landing which depicts troops running up a beach, fighter cover overhead, landing ships on the beaches and warships or large mother ships in the background. The second is a signal sent by Churchill to Mountbatten who had been, for most of the crucial period of planning and training, head of the Combined Operations Command.
~ Sale of Button Badge ~
The Combined Operations Military Button Badge opposite is unique tribute to The Command and will be auctioned at Marlow's Military Auctioneers of Stone, Staffordshire on August 19th with the proceeds going to the Combined Operations Memorial Fund. The badge is offered for sale by Terry Carney and the auctioneers will forgo the seller's commission fee. We sincerely thank them both for their generosity. The Badge was made by Terry in 1992 around the time he was researching an article on "The Combined Operations Badge 1942- 46." The badge is 780mm (31 inches) in diameter and is made from over 1,000 Military buttons from the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The use of buttons from the three services provides a strong symbolic association with Combined Operations that extends well beyond the image itself. The outer row comprises khaki coloured General Service buttons, the second row Royal Navy black plastic buttons and the third row black RAF plastic buttons. The Eagle is made of brass R A F buttons, the anchor gilt Royal Navy Officers buttons, the Tommy Gun brass Army General Service and brass Royal Marine buttons. The background consists of Royal Navy black plastic buttons. The buttons were originally fixed on black card by pushing the button loops through the card and securing them in place with string. Later it was mounted on a wooden board to provide better support. Auctioneers guide price £50 to £80. The lot catalogue number is 203. Click here for the bidding form which may be printed, completed and posted or faxed to Marlow's, the auctioneers. Click here for conditions of sale. (Click Conditions of Sale image to enlarge for reading.).
~ 20 Mile Walk in Derbyshire ~ Ian Carrington and his two dogs Bailey and Lucy successfully completed their fund raising walk on Saturday November 21st 2009. The weather was challenging with mist and rain at times and heavily laden skies throughout. Despite this the beauty of the Derbyshire countryside can be seen in the photos below taken along the High Peak Trail. Donations received from local supporters and as far afield as France and the USA totalled an impressive £1044.67. Many thanks to Ian, Bailey & Lucy and all who supported Ian's fund raising walk. It's an old cliche but your donations really will make a difference.
Pre Walk Information. Ian Carrington's father, leading seaman John Carrington (CJX355012), served on the Destroyer Duncan before serving under the Combined Operations Command on Landing Craft Flak 18. Then in 1944, as Coxswain of Landing Craft Tank 820, he was involved in the Italian landings and the D Day landings. Now in his 85th year he is still very much with us but, sadly, one of a dwindling band to whom we owe so much. In honour of his father and the many thousands who served in Combined Operations Ian will undertake a 20 mile walk in aid of the Combined Operations Memorial Fund.
The walk will take place on Saturday November 21 along the High Peak Trail in the Derbyshire Peak District. The trail is a reclaimed rail route running from near Buxton to Cromford. The distance of the trail is 17.5 miles but Ian and his faithful canine companions, Bailey and Lucy, will walk a further 2.5 miles towards Derby to make it an even 20 miles. Bailey is a 4 year old Golden Retriever and Lucy a 3 year old Chocolate Lab / spaniel cross with the distinction of having white socks. They are both rescue dogs. [Photo of John Carrington with the Royal British Legion (RBL) standard bearer taken in September 2005 at Salerno War Cemetery during a RBL pilgrimage to Southern Italy under the “Heroes Return” scheme.]
A unique fund raising event by Royal Navy veteran, Richard Stimpson of Staffordshire, put money in the coffers of the Combined Operations Memorial Fund (see donations wall above) and the War Memorials Trust. We are greatly indebted to Richard and his friends who made the day such a success. What did Richard do? He walked backwards for 6 miles!! Click on the photo for more information courtesy of the Wolverhampton Express and Star.
~ The Commando March - 6th April 2006 ~
A number of re-enactment groups from the Netherlands, France, England, Wales and Scotland joined forces with this website, the No 3 Commando Re-enactment Group and the Combined Operations Association, to raise funds for the Combined Operations Memorial. We are indebted to Patrick van der Vegt of the No 10 (IA) Commando Re-enactment Group, located in the Netherlands, for organising the event. In the finest spirit of Combined Operations the march was an international operation. The event raised £1500.00 from veterans, individuals, organisations and associations with an interest in Combined Operations.
The 7 mile march started at Achnacarry in the Highlands of Scotland where WWII Commandos undertook their gruelling training under the Combined Operations Command and the immediate scrutiny of the legendary Col Charles E Vaughan. The route passed the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge where a wreath laying ceremony was held. To see the route of the march click on the thumbnail opposite. Below you'll find a small selection of photos taken on the day, articles from the media together with a link to around 300 other photos taken by the march's official photographer, Kees Huyser.
To view the 300 photos taken by the march's official photographer click here. ~ A Chance Encounter ~ A WW2 veteran from Canada and his friend were travelling north to Scotland by rail. They had been to the 60th anniversary D-Day commemorations in Normandy. They engaged an elderly lady in conversation and found they had much in common. The veteran had served in Combined Operations as an LAC on a radar vessel off the beaches of Normandy, and her late husband had been an officer in the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPPs). His clandestine visits to the landing beaches, prior to invasions, provided invaluable intelligence on enemy defences, hidden obstacles and beach and tidal conditions. The miles drifted by almost unnoticed as they relived their youthful memories of wartime... for she had also served her country in the WAAF, including some time at RAF Charterhall, near Kelso, in the Scottish Borders.
Unbeknown to them a young business woman, sitting nearby, overheard much of the animated conversation over several hours. At York, she slipped a sealed envelope into the hands of the veteran and his friend, as she left the train. She was gone before they had time to gather their senses. What was in the envelope? What was her message? (Click on the image to enlarge). Wherever you are in the world your life has certainly been touched by the achievements and sacrifices of those who served under the Combined Operations Command in WW2. Viv showed her appreciation and gratitude having heard but a tiny fraction of the experiences of just a couple of veterans. Will you join her by making a donation for the erection of a fitting memorial to the men and women from the three services of all the Allied countries who served under the Combined Operations Command, many of whom never returned from the fields of conflict. Donations are welcome in any currency. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of time, advice, sponsorship and other assistance from the organisations and individuals listed below (in alphabetical order within each section). If you would like to sponsor a plaque or web page click here for more information or here to contact us without any obligation.
If you have helped the memorial project in any way and your name does not appear here please on this page please let us know. We'll be delighted to correct the omission.
Combined Operations was set up by
Churchill post Dunkirk to think, plan and train for offensive operations. They
were the only organisation doing this at a time when the "regular" armed
forces were rightly concerned with the defence of
the country.
The resultant preparations for
battle, organised by Mountbatten and the Combined Operations Command, are in
themselves a remarkable story and distinctly different from the battles
themselves and campaigns which are well documented and remembered in many
museums, books and films. Not only did Combined Operations train hundreds of
thousands of men in amphibious landing techniques but they oversaw the
Mulberry Harbour project, PLUTO (Pipeline Under the Ocean), Hobart's Funnies
(innovative adaptations to tanks), seaborne radar and communications (Fighter
Direction Tenders) and even Ice Ships.
Combined Operations extols the virtues and benefits of cooperation for the common good. It's not by accident that the motto they adopted was "United We Conquer" and it's not a huge step to develop this motto to peacetime use with the change of a single word - United We Prosper - not a bad mantra for today's young people. Many thousands died while serving in the Combined Operations Command, or in support of its raids and landings. The memorial will therefore;
The memorial will be prominently featured on the CombinedOps website so those unable to visit the physical memorial will find a focus for reflection and remembrance. The memorial will display the website URL. Those who served the Allied cause in Combined
Operations have earned the right to be recognised and remembered. After all they trained
together, they served together and they died together. It is time to remember them..
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