A further two meetings of the Executive Committee/Trustees were necessary following the establishment of the memorial; it was noted that the BBC TV had withdrawn from covering the ceremony due to other commitments nearer home. It was agreed that copies of a good amateur video of the ceremony be sent to certain persons in recognition of services rendered. Future maintenance, insurance and ownership of the memorial was agreed to be transferred to the Royal Marines Corps.
Finally it was agreed to close the Trust Bank Accounts and that the small balance of the funds remaining unspent be transferred to the Royal Marine Corps; the memorial Trust was thereupon dissolved.
I decided to institute an annual Service of Remembrance at the memorial at Ouistreham on the anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy and these Services have been an unqualified success with the aid of 1 Assault Group RM who have been most supportive. Subsequently the Commandant General Royal Marines directed that 1 AGRM would be responsible for the running of these Services, although due to the intervention of Operation Telic in 2003 (the Iraq war), their participation has been largely limited to operational control.
Anyone, especially Service personnel, Veterans and relations, is welcome to attend and take part in these Services or at any other time to use this memorial for private remembrance. For example, some of the visitors to these annual Services of Remembrance and/or at other times have been:
• Groups and individuals from the LST & Landing Craft Association.
• Groups and serving members of the Royal Marines Corps.
• Members of the Association of Wrens, Royal Naval Association, Royal Marines Association and the Normandy Veterans Association.
• Groups from HMS Sultan, the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre, the Royal British Legion, the France Nord Royal Naval Association, the French Marines Corps and French Veterans of No 4 and 10 Commandos.
• Serving personnel from ships HMS Exeter, Kent, Campbeltown and Ocean and from RFA Sir Percival.
The France Nord Branch of the Royal Naval Association have taken the memorial to their hearts and assemble there on other occasions, also for commemoration Services during the year.
On 29th April 2003, at an Investiture held by The Queen at Buckingham Palace, I was presented with the MBE for services to the commemoration of D-Day.
On 5th June 2004, the day preceding the annual Service of Remembrance, to mark the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, HRH Prince Charles The Prince of Wales, inspected a Guard of Honour, comprising men and women of the ship's company of HMS Campbeltown berthed nearby in the Caen Canal. Prince Charles then laid a beautiful wreath at the foot of the Memorial, the wreath bearing his heraldic emblem of the fleur-de-lis made of fresh white flowers. After this I escorted Prince Charles to the memorial where, close by, he symbolically planted an evergreen Quercus Ilex (Holm or Holly Oak) tree. I then introduced him to the ranks of veterans where he spent much time talking to practically everyone of the Association present and others and learning of their experiences there 60 or so years ago.
©2007 Maurice Hillebrandt