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COMBINED OPERATIONS |
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On the 28th of April 2009 the trustees of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, England approved our plans for a Combined Operations Memorial. The National and International recognition so deserving of the Combined Operations Command in WW2, particularly during the critical years Mountbatten was in charge, will soon be realised. Click on 'Construction Updates' in the red links bar above to see the latest photos of the memorial site. The final approved design is represented in the top and middle images opposite. The top image gives the main dimensions with the trees removed for clarity and the middle view gives an artistic impression of the completed memorial except for the trees which will be positioned outside the triangle to provide growing space as they mature. For those who have followed the progress of the memorial over the past 6 years or so, the bottom image shows the original design. The memorial has a spearhead shape comprising an equilateral triangle and a shaft at its base. The 1m diameter, circular mosaic of the Combined Operations insignia will be set in a vertical stone wall in the centre of the triangle. The plaque in the forefront on the horizontal stone will provide general information about Combined Operations and the plaque to the rear will carry 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 on the personnel, resources and best practices of Land, Sea and Air forces and in the design they 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 stones come 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 are around 2.0m to 2.7m in length and were generously donated by David and Danny Bonnar of Clachan Quarries, Loch Fyne, Scotland. See the stones in position on the Construction Updates page. 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 Mr Dick Stimpson for their advice in the selection of the trees. They 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 Plaques The memorial will have an information plaque and a dedication plaque. The size of the plaques, choice of material and lettering will be decided when the ground work is completed in the spring of 2012 to ensure an overall harmonious appearance. The plaques will be recessed into the large stones before fitting.
The Mosaic The mosaic 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.
The Vertical Wall The wall will hold the mosaic and will be faced with stones of around 25cms to 30cms from the same source as the larger stones. These were also generously donated by David Bonnar of Clachan Quarries, Loch Fyne, Scotland. The Paved Area The paved walking area totals 9 sq m. It will allow easy
access for pedestrians, wheelchairs and buggies. The natural slate slabs were
selected to match the stones and come in a variety of
sizes from 200mm to 600mm. 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 head of the Combined Operations Command for most of the crucial period of planning and training.
Combined Operations was set
up by Churchill post Dunkirk to think, plan and train for offensive
operations. They were the only ones doing this at a time when
the "regular" armed forces were rightly concerned with the defence of the
country.
The resultant
planning and preparations for battle were organised under the contiguous
commands of Keyes and Mountbatten.
The many major battles and campaigns of WW2 are well documented and amply represented in museums at home and abroad and in books and films but few realise that without Combined Operations the results might have been very different. Combined Operations trained hundreds of thousands of men in amphibious landing techniques, set up the Commando Units and oversaw the Mulberry Harbour project, PLUTO (Pipeline Under the Ocean), Hobart's Funnies (innovative adaptations to tanks for beach clearing), seaborne radar and communications (Fighter Direction Tenders) and even experiments in the design of ships made of ice, not to mention the design, procurement and subsequent modification of around 40 different types of landing craft. The strength of Combined Operations had its origins in the three services working closely together under a single command. Their aptly chosen motto "United We Conquer" needs no explanation. 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 Combined Ops website so those unable to visit the physical memorial will find a focus for reflection and remembrance and the website URL will be displayed on the memorial. Those who served the
Allied cause in Combined Operations deserve to be recognised and remembered. After
all they trained together, they served together and they died together. It is
time to remember them.. together |
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