MARSHALL AID COMMEMORATION COMMISSION is a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the British Government. Responsible for the Marshall Scholarships. In 1953 the British Parliament enacted the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Act named in honour of General George C. Marshall, in appreciation of the assistance given in the aftermath of World War II through the European Recovery Programme - commonly known as the Marshall Plan. This Act created the Marshall Scholarships and specified that the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, or Commission, be established to oversee and manage the scholarships. The Commission came into being that year, and the first twelve Marshall Scholars arrived in the UK in 1954. In his message to the scholars, General Marshall wrote "A close accord between our two countries is essential to the good of mankind in this turbulent world of today, and that is not possible without an intimate understanding of each other."