Teddington
Nub News Logo
Nub News

Two historic military monuments in Bushy Park could undergo improvements

By Tilly O'Brien 22nd Sep 2025

The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks aims to enhance two historic military monuments, commemorating Bushy Park's WWII role in hosting Camp Griffiss (Credit: Nub News)
The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks aims to enhance two historic military monuments, commemorating Bushy Park's WWII role in hosting Camp Griffiss (Credit: Nub News)

The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks is considering how it can improve the condition of two of its historic military monuments.

These monuments commemorate Bushy Park's hosting of Camp Griffiss, which housed thousands of American servicemen and women during World War II.

According to the Friends, "The wartime buildings were demolished a long time ago, but you can still spot reminders of Bushy Park's proud military history".

The two monuments that are in talks of improvements are the Eisenhower Memorial and the USAAF Memorial.

The description of the Eisenhower Memorial says: "On 5 March 1944 General Eisenhower moved SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces) from Grosvenor Square in London to Camp Griffiss, a large US base in Bushy Park. From here he planned Operation Overlord, the code name of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

"Although the wartime buildings were demolished in 1963, a brick pavement has been laid on the site of Eisenhower's office as a marker of his top-secret presence in Bushy at a momentous time in modern history."

The Eisenhower Memorial (Credit: The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks)

The description of the USAAF Memorial says: "The USAAF memorial was installed by the Royal Air Force in memory of colleagues in the US 8th Army Air Force who occupied the camp site here from 1942.

"This tablet, east of Teddington Gate, marks the site of Camp Griffiss. It is inscribed with the words: "It is through fraternity that liberty is saved".

"It also commemorates the Berlin Airlift, which was coordinated from Camp Griffiss after the Second World War ended. Camp Griffiss was the heavily camouflaged base from which General Eisenhower planned Operation Overlord in 1944. The camp once housed 3000 men and was named after Lieutenant colonel Townsend Griffiss, the first US airman to die in the line of duty in Europe after the US entered the Second World War.

"In 1999 The King, the then Prince of Wales, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the lifting of the blockade on Berlin."

The USAAF Memorial (Credit: The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks)

Another of these historic monuments, the Diana Fountain, was recently restored.

     

CHECK OUT OUR Jobs Section HERE!
teddington vacancies updated hourly!
Click here to see more: teddington jobs

     

Please Support Us Teddington. Your Town. Your News. Your Support Matters.

Local news is essential for our community — but it needs your support.
By becoming a monthly supporter, you’ll help us continue delivering reliable local stories and events.
Your support makes a real difference to Teddington.
Monthly supporters will enjoy:
Ad-free experience

Sign-up for our FREE newsletter...

We want to provide teddington with more and more clickbait-free news.

     

...or become a Supporter.
Teddington. Your Town. Your News.

Local news is essential for our community — but it needs your support.
Your donation makes a real difference.
For monthly donators:
Ad-free experience