Commando Memorial facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Commander Memorial

The memorial in June 2016
Location in Lochaber
Coordinates	56°53′52.42″N 4°56′38.51″W / 56.8978944°N 4.9440306°W / 56.8978944; -4.9440306
Location	Lochaber, Scottish Highlands
Designer	Scott Sutherland
Type	statue
Material	bronze sculpture
Height	17 feet (5.2 m)
Beginning date	1949
Completion date	1951
Opening date	1952
Dedicated to	British Commandos

The Commando Memorial is a famous monument in Lochaber, Scotland. It was built to honor the brave men of the original British Commandos who served during World War II. The memorial stands about a mile from Spean Bridge. It looks out over the areas where the Commandos trained at Achnacarry Castle starting in 1942. The Queen Mother officially opened it in 1952. It is now one of Scotland's most well-known monuments. People visit it as a war memorial and also for amazing views of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr.

Building the Memorial

In 1949, a sculptor named Scott Sutherland won a competition to design the Commando Memorial. His design was chosen, and he won £200. The bronze statue was finished in 1951. The memorial was officially opened by the Queen Mother on September 27, 1952.

The monument is considered a very important historical building in Scotland. In 1993, a special plaque was added. It celebrated the Commando Association being given the "Freedom of Lochaber." In 2010, a two-mile path was opened. It connects the Commando Memorial to another local war memorial at High Bridge. This bridge is where the first shots of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 were fired.

What It Looks Like

The monument is a large bronze sculpture of three Commandos. They are dressed in their special uniforms, with their hats, gear, and rifles. They stand on a stone base, looking south towards Ben Nevis. The soldier at the front is believed to be Commando Jack Lewington. One of the other soldiers is Frank Nicholls, and the third is Sidney Hewlett. Sidney Hewlett was a very respected non-commissioned officer (NCO) who helped start the Commandos. The whole monument is 17 feet (5.2 m) tall. Many people describe it as a huge, striking, and iconic statue.

The words "United we conquer" are carved around the top of the stone base. The main plaque on the base says: "In memory of the officers and men of the commandos who died in the Second World War 1939–1945. This country was their training ground."

Where It Is Located

Spean Bridge is a small village in the Scottish Highlands. It is about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Fort William. The memorial is about 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Spean Bridge. It sits where the A82 road and the B8004 road meet. You can easily see it from the A82. From the memorial, you can see across the River Spean valley to the tall peaks of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr.

The location was chosen because it was on the route from Spean Bridge railway station to the Commando Training Centre. This center was at Achnacarry Castle nearby. New Commandos would arrive after a long 14-hour train journey. They would then march 7 miles (11 km) to the training center. They carried all their heavy gear and weapons, weighing about 36 pounds (16 kg). This march was a tough test of their strength and determination.

A Place of Remembrance

The Garden of Remembrance, 2007

Ashes scattering area at the Commando Memorial, 2015

The monument is a special place to remember the British Commandos. They trained all over the Lochaber area, which the monument overlooks. They were based at the Achnacarry Commando Training Centre, which started in 1942. Because of this, the memorial is used for important services. These include the 60th anniversary of D-Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies.

A Garden of Remembrance was later added to the site. Many Commandos who survived World War II chose this garden as the final resting place for their ashes. Families also use it to scatter ashes and place tributes for loved ones. These loved ones might have been part of Commando units in more recent conflicts, like the Falklands War or wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Sculptor

Scott Sutherland (1910-1984) was a talented Scottish sculptor. He was born in Wick and studied art in Scotland and Paris. After traveling in Europe, he served in the Army during World War II. He even worked alongside Commandos. After the war, he became the Head of Sculpture at Duncan of Jordanstone College in 1947. Sutherland was recognized for his work by important art societies. He retired in 1975 and passed away nine years later.

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