There is a high level of symbolism in the design and content of the memorial. Combined Operations drew on the personnel, resources and best practices of Land, Sea and Air forces and in the design, the Army, Navy and Air Force are represented by the 3 trees and 3 stones. The spear-head shape is indicative of the archetypal attack formation adopted during raids and landings - the tip representing the initial assault troops, the main part of the spearhead representing the support troops and reinforcements and the shaft, reserves. The stones came from Loch Fyne, in Scotland, where hundreds of thousands of service personnel trained in amphibious landing techniques under the auspices of Combined Operations. Some Commandos were also trained in the rugged terrain of this area. Who, amongst them, ever forgot Inveraray!

The Four Large Stones, around 2.0m to 2.7m in length, were generously donated by David and 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 Sitka 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, while the Sitka spruce was used in the construction of early 'stick and string' planes right through to the modern era. We are indebted to the RN Naval Historical Branch, the RAF Historical Society and Richard Stimpson for their advice in the selection of the trees. The Sitka Spruce will be positioned a few metres behind the dedication stone, the oak will be positioned forward and to the right of the spearhead shape appropriately close to the river and the ash in a similar position to the left of the spearhead shape.

The Information Display Board

This improved Information Display Board below is a replacement for the original, which was damaged in 2016.

The Dedication Plaque

The dedication plaque (far right) is made of black, unpolished granite with white lettering. It will be recessed into the standing stone at the apex of the spearhead shape. The colourful, acrylic information display is attached to a hardwood base and will be positioned in front of the memorial to the left of the spearhead shaft on a wooden stand. To view the plaques click on the links below.

The wall is faced with stones from the same quarry as the larger stones, thus reinforcing the historical association with the No 1 Combined Training Centre at Inveraray on Loch Fyne.

The paved stone was chosen to match the carboniferous limestone from Loch Fyne. It will allow easy access for pedestrians, wheelchairs and buggies. The outer edge of the spearhead shape comprises 28m of edging stone. The area within the triangle, not covered by the slabs or occupied by the mosaic wall and the standing stones, has been filled in with crushed slate similar in appearance to the standing stones to provide a flat and level surface.

The Mosaic

The mosaic (right) is contained within a 50 mm deep stainless steel band, 1m in diameter. In the design, the eagle represents the RAF, the Thompson machine gun represents the Army and the anchor represents the Navy. The red parts in the design are made of vitreous glass mosaic tiles and the remainder aquatic ceramic tiles. This combination provides the best contrast between the black and red colours.

Background to the Memorial

Towards the end of the 1990s, my late father in law, John Glen, first talked about his wartime service in the Combined Operations Command. By then the Command had all but faded from the collective mind of the people, save for the few who had served in it or had a special interest in military history.

On leaving school, John had gained qualifications in radio repairs. With the advent of war, this caught the attention of the RAF, who were secretly developing a new technology based on radio waves. This became known as radar - radio detection and ranging. The RAF trained John as a radar technician and he saw service at various land based coastal radar stations in Scotland and the north west of England. The work was top secret, as was the conversion of three LSTs (Landing Ships Tanks). The LSTs would provide extended radar cover, early warning, friend or foe identification, communications and intelligence gathering off the Normandy beaches. They would hand over to mobile land based radar units when they could safely operate on French soil. By then, a flight sergeant, he was attached to the Combined Operations Command and reported to John Brown's shipyard on the Clyde, where the three LSTs were being refitted for their special tasks and designated 'Fighter Direction Tenders' (FDTs).

As his story of D-Day and its aftermath unfolded, I read Bernard Fergusson's excellent book "The Watery Maze" about the Combined Operations Command. There was not a single reference to the Combined Operations and its Command on the Internet, so, with no serious intent or purpose, I constructed a small website and published a few pages in 2001, just months after John's death. Remarkably, veterans, their families and friends found the website and offered material, photos, support and encouragement. The website grew like topsy and I was surprised to learn there was no memorial to the Command. With a mild sense of outrage, little preparation, no design, no place on which to build, no committee, no bank account and no money, I launched the Combined Operations Memorial Fund.

There was so much goodwill and support, it would have been difficult for the project to fail. Problems and obstacles were overcome and those who attended the dedication ceremony all had a personal reason to be there. The presence of so many veterans and tear filled eyes amongst the onlookers was humbling. It was a happy and emotional day.

•  remember those who served in Combined Operations or were trained by them and especially those who were killed in action or in countless realistic amphibious training exercises,

•  pay tribute to all who served in Combined Operations from the three services of many Allied nations,

•  celebrate the wider achievements of Combined Operations including Mulberry, PLUTO, Hobart's Funnies etc.,

•  preserve the memory of Combined Operations by providing free access to information about Combined Operations on www.combinedops.com

•  encourage young people to use the website for educational and/or family research purposes.

Dedication Ceremony - Guide for Guests