The Gibraltar Stone (2)

A new memorial to commando training on Woodbury Common near Lympstone in Devon. It is formed from a piece of the actual Rock of Gibraltar (thus its name ‘The Gibraltar Stone’) and it records the fact that commando training has taken place here since WW2. The stone is placed on a hillside overlooking one of the old WW2 firing ranges and the area of Dalditch Camp, and part of the modern day Endurance Course which is run by recruits and young officers under training from the nearby Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.

There are two bronze plaques on The Gibraltar Stone. One records the history of commando training on Woodbury Common and the long relationship between the Royal Marines and Gibraltar. It commemorates not just Royal Marines commandos but also all the Army and All Arms commandos who have trained in this part of Devon. The second plaque is on the side of the stone overlooking the Endurance Course and it has on it the four key attributes that together make up ‘Commando Spirit’.

It is located at GR SY038859

More information on this link: http://www.commandoveterans.org/GibraltarStone

Photo courtesy of Alastair Rogers (LT Col RM Retd)