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COMBINED OPERATIONS |
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Donations received to the end of April 2012, amounting to £11,000, have covered the cost of Phase I. A magnificent effort which has taken us half way to achieving our goal of providing a fitting place of remembrance for all who served in, or alongside, Combined Operations in WW2. With your continued support we will see the completion of Phase II hopefully in time for a dedication ceremony in the summer of 2013. See Money Matters below for information on expenditure, what remains to be done in phase II and future costs. Please consider making a (further) donation or purchasing a print of David Thorp's evocative painting "Combined Operations - A Normandy Beachhead." It would be a fitting way to remember the contribution of a generation of veterans who really did make a difference. Visit the Painting and Prints page here for photos of the prints, sizes, prices and ordering details. This website memorial wall (below) shows progress to date with each block representing £50.00. The current total is £10,750. 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, unit, landing craft etc. Administrative costs including postage, Paypal fees and other incidentals of any description are funded from other sources. 100% of your donation goes into the memorial fund. Click here to donate now, electronically or by post. [Imo = In Memory of]
Money Matters - Progress Report Phase I of the construction of the memorial was completed in April 2012 at a cost of £11,000. The major items of expenditure included:
Phase II will cost about the same again - £11,000. The major items include:
Sale of Button Badge
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.
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.
A WW2 veteran from Canada and his friend were travelling north to Scotland by rail having attended 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 slid a sealed envelope onto their table 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 opposite to find out. 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 towards the erection of the Combined Operations Memorial? We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of time, advice, donations and sponsorship from the organisations and individuals listed below. 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 let us know. We'll be delighted to correct the omission.
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