Commando Magazine edition 3 2020

PRESIDENT / SECRETARY – Mr Wayne Havenaar
president_nsw@commando.asn.org
Web Address – www.commando.asn.org
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT – Mr Barry Grant, OAM
barrygrant1945@gmail.com
Contact – secretary_nsw@commando.asn.org
THE HISTORY OF THE COMMANDO MEMORIAL SEAT
MARTIN PLACE, SYDNEY
First Published In The NSW Commando Association Newsletter ‘Commando News’
Forworded by Mr Barry Grant, OAM - ACA NSW
This article was copied from the “Commando
News” Newsletter of the NSW Commando
Association dated August 1982 and was written
by Don Latimer, their then Secretary, formerly of the 2 nd /7 th
Independent Company. The idea for a Commando
Memo rial was first proposed at the Annual Meeting in
March, 1977. The suggestion came from the executive of
the No.1 Commando Association (Post War) who were
present by invitation for the first time. It was to be a joint
effort.
In May 1977 the inaugural meeting of the Memorial
Sub-Committee took place. Generally, the discussion was
about designs, the inclusion of names of the fallen, type
of construction, and a site somewhere in Sydney. It was
resolved to approach the Lord Mayor, the late Leo Port
and the City Council for approval. Present at this meeting
were representatives for the NSW Commando Association
and No.1 Commando Association.
Contact with the City Council established that they
were interested in the proposal, and, that the design
should be such as to allow community involvement, e.g. a
fountain, a garden, an adventure playground, or, some
form of seating for the citizens of Sydney. Various sites
were discussed in committee, they included, Hyde Park,
Circular Quay, the cliff face near the Opera House, a small
park in College Street, and Martin Place. Due to an un -
fortunate series of events, communications between the
two Associations deteriorated. Leo Port passed away. The
NSW Association decided to go it alone, with the “Z”
Special Force Association.
The new Lord Mayor, Alderman Meers, requested the
involvement of the State branch of the RSL, because his
council considered that, as the memorial was to be for
those who served in world War II, and then the RSL should
give approval. Then after 2 years of deliberation, our
Association asked for a site in Martin Plaza (Place), Sydney.
During this period several seat designs were considered
by the Sub-Committee, including, a monolithic pedestal,
submitted by the Architects of Paddington RSL Club, and,
a design with traditional figures representing the Com -
mando in action.
Late in 1980, the City Council drew up plans for the
Memorial Seat as it exists today. In January 1981, at the
The Commando Seat at the Eastern end of Martin Place in Sydney.
The seat is orientated towards the West to view the setting sun
and to look along Martin Place towards the Sydney Cenotaph at
the opposite end of Martin Place. Notice the 14 grooves (bottom
side of plaque) representing the 12 Cdo Coys/Sqns and
M&Z Special Units. Image: Courtesy of Google
National Reunion, in Canberra, our President launched an
appeal to build the Memorial. Contributions received
slowly but surely, for the first months, then, one of
members made a donation well into four figures. The way
was now clear for the Sub-Committee to enter into a firm
undertaking with the City Council, and to guarantee the
construction of the Memorial Seat.
Under the control of the Director of Parks and Civil
Affairs the approved design was given to Melocco Bros
for construction and installation. The design of the plaque
was influenced by the layout adopted by the South
Australian Association memorial in Keswick Barracks,
Adelaide, and by the Victorian Association, near the
Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.
The seat is constructed of polished stone from Tarana
quarry near Oberon in New South Wales, and mounted on
a black marble base. The incorporation of the rough
unpolished panels in the base, represent the untrained
Commando as opposed to the polished panels re pre -
senting the trained man, ready for action. Fourteen cuts
located in the raised portion containing the plaque,
represent the twelve companies plus “M” and “Z” Special
Forces.
8 COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 3 I 2020