Gallery Page 2

Combined Operations - A Normandy Beachhead

The painting by David A Thorp is of the landing area on Sword Beach Normandy, France early on D-Day morning, June 6th 1944. It's an hour or so since the first assault troops landed but the approaches and the beaches remain extremely hazardous. It does not portray a particular event but all the actions described did take place in the area over the space of a few hours. With the artist's skill they are brought together in a seamless montage that recognises the vital contribution of each of the three services in the largest amphibious Combined Operation in history, the likes of which will never be seen again.
A Combined Operations memorial has recently been Dedicated in the grounds of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire England, and the painting has been gifted to the associated Memorial Fund. The painting will soon be raffled to raise much needed funds for the construction and maintenance of this unique and important memorial, so we would appreciate your support.
The artist worked in close co-operation with the Late Tony Chapman, erstwhile Archivist and Historian for the LST Landing Craft Association (Royal Navy) who provided historical and technical information over several months and Geoffrey Slee, owner of the Combined Operations website and the driving force and funding behind the memorial project.
Suffice it to say that had this painting been produced without any specific craft or specifications being insisted upon, the work would have been easily finished in four to five weeks. But due to the expertise and dedication of both Tony Chapman and Geoff Slee, the painting took five months of intensive work. During the course of the painting, 1,060 emails and sixty emailed photographs were exchanged between Geoff, Tony, other military sources and the artist. The result is truly a product of a Combined Operation !
To obtain more information on Combined Operations (set up during WW2 by Winston Churchill), the Memorial site and its construction, the painting and how to obtain prints, CLICK HERE and when on site scroll down to read about the Memorial, after which click MEMORIAL in the red bar at the top of the page , then click the PAINTING and PRINTS Link on the left.
A Combined Operations memorial has recently been Dedicated in the grounds of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire England, and the painting has been gifted to the associated Memorial Fund. The painting will soon be raffled to raise much needed funds for the construction and maintenance of this unique and important memorial, so we would appreciate your support.
The artist worked in close co-operation with the Late Tony Chapman, erstwhile Archivist and Historian for the LST Landing Craft Association (Royal Navy) who provided historical and technical information over several months and Geoffrey Slee, owner of the Combined Operations website and the driving force and funding behind the memorial project.
Suffice it to say that had this painting been produced without any specific craft or specifications being insisted upon, the work would have been easily finished in four to five weeks. But due to the expertise and dedication of both Tony Chapman and Geoff Slee, the painting took five months of intensive work. During the course of the painting, 1,060 emails and sixty emailed photographs were exchanged between Geoff, Tony, other military sources and the artist. The result is truly a product of a Combined Operation !
To obtain more information on Combined Operations (set up during WW2 by Winston Churchill), the Memorial site and its construction, the painting and how to obtain prints, CLICK HERE and when on site scroll down to read about the Memorial, after which click MEMORIAL in the red bar at the top of the page , then click the PAINTING and PRINTS Link on the left.


In June, 1941, No 11 (Scottish) Commando effected a landing near vthe river Litani
Following the successful action at the Litani River, on June 9 1941, by members of No 11 (Scottish) Commando, several awards were made to some very brave me who acted in an exemplary fashion, and with no thought to their personal safety.
In particular, Lt. Eric Garland was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and also a bar to the Military Cross that he had previously received for his actions at Dunkirk. In his citation, Colonel Bob Laycock said of Lt Garland “ Lt Garland displayed throughout the action cool and clear headed leadership and complete disregard for his own safety.
He was the first individual to cross the river and personally ledthe party which cut the enemy wire on the far side under heavy fire. On one occasion he deliberately stood up and exposed his position to a sniper that was causing severe casualties amongst the men, and on locating the source of the sniper fire Lt Garland manned of of the Bren gun's and shot the sniper dead..
Lt. Garland also put out of action a 75mm Gun which was covering the river by acdcurate fire from a captured anti-tank gun.
Following the successful action at the Litani River, on June 9 1941, by members of No 11 (Scottish) Commando, several awards were made to some very brave me who acted in an exemplary fashion, and with no thought to their personal safety.
In particular, Lt. Eric Garland was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and also a bar to the Military Cross that he had previously received for his actions at Dunkirk. In his citation, Colonel Bob Laycock said of Lt Garland “ Lt Garland displayed throughout the action cool and clear headed leadership and complete disregard for his own safety. He was the first individual to cross the river and personally ledthe party which cut the enemy wire on the far side under heavy fire. On one occasion he deliberately stood up and exposed his position to a sniper that was causing severe casualties amongst the men, and on locating the source of the sniper fire Lt Garland manned one of the Bren gun's and shot the sniper dead..
Lt. Garland also put out of action a 75mm Gun which was covering the river by acdcurate fire from a captured anti-tank gun.
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