On the north bank of River Tame, opposite and near the Free Spirit Horse Memorial.

A natural stone wall bearing a circular badge of the Combined Operations made of coloured mosaic tiles. 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 wall stands within a spearhead-shaped slate and stone-flagged area, with three rough-hewn standing stones at each point. The standing stone at the apex bears a tablet with a dedicatory inscription. At the head of the path near the memorial is a rectangular board fixed between two wooden posts. The board has three metal information panels fixed to it with information about the memorial together with an illustration and further text relating to the Normandy Landings. The board was damaged in 2016 and was replaced by an improved display board. The shape of the area evokes the attack formation adopted by Combined Operations, while the three standing stones represent the Army, Navy, and Air Force respectively. There are also three trees: Ash for the Army, Oak for the Navy, and Sitka Spruce for the Air Force. As a whole, the memorial symbolises the three services working together as a unified force. The Combined Operations Command memorial, which remembers all who served in or alongside the Combined Operations Command in WW2, was dedicated in 2013.

Source of information: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, https://combinedops.com

Source of images: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, https://combinedops.com, https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

Mosaic:

COMBINED OPERATIONS COMMAND

UNITED WE CONQUER

Tablet:

COMBINED OPERATIONS

COMMAND

This memorial is dedicated to the

hundreds of thousands of personnel from

the three services of Allied Nations

who served in Combined Operations,

were trained by them in amphibious

landing techniques or took part in joint

operations in World War II, including

D-Day.

It is especially dedicated to those who did

not return from the field of conflict, died

during realistic training exercises or

suffered lifelong mental and physical/ trauma.

We will remember them.