Editing Basil Spence (section)

==Army service==

In 1939, Spence was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the [[Camouflage Training and Development Centre]] of the [[British Army]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/273364/digital_images/edinburgh+ravelston+dykes+road+ravelston+house+garden/ | title=Edinburgh, Ravelston Dykes Road, Ravelston House, Garden | publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland | work=A set of oblique aerial photographs of Ravelston House garden with military vehicles, Edinburgh taken as a camouflage test. Sir Basil Spence Archive. | date= 14 March 1944 | access-date=2 August 2012 | pages=Canmore ID 273364}}</ref> He was initially based at [[Farnham]] in Surrey.  His work included, prior to D-Day, the design of a counterfeit oil terminus at Dover as part of the [[Operation Fortitude]] deception plan for the Normandy landings.<ref>The Hidden War by Seymour Reit, published by Corgi Books 1980, page 35</ref>  Spence subsequently took part in the [[D-Day]] landings in 1944. He was demobilised in September 1945, having reached the rank of major and been [[mentioned in despatches]] twice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/oct/16/communities|title=Matt Weaver examines the career of architect Sir Basil Spence|work=The Guardian|date=16 October 2007}}</ref>