| Content Note | Subjects covered:
consideration and recommendation of acceptance of report submitted by the Vice Chairman concerning expenditure for the month of October
consideration of tenders for the supply of a total of 8,834 headstones for cemeteries in France and Belgium, with general discussion on the supply and engraving of headstones, including comments from Mr Waterfield that the Commission should consider direct manufacture of headstones given the large number required, and reply from Fabian Ware and Col. Durham regarding the attempts the Commission had made in this regard, including reference to the Berrington acid engraving process, which had not been continued due to the cost and the limited output that could be achieved and the view that slow progress of work would not be tolerated by the public. Question by Sir Alfred Mond as to whether some of the work could be done in France and response from Col. Durham that the Commission might be able to get a limited number of headstones done in France, but not many, and response from Fabian Ware that he had heard privately that labour was beginning to be available in France which could help in getting some of the work done there. Mention by Col. Durham of a man who was training disabled soldiers in letter cutting, and that some of the disparity in the costs quoted in the tenders was down to firms trying to find a market level for the unprecedented work. Recommendation that the tenders of the following firms be accepted subject to a satisfactory sample of workmanship and materials being submitted to the Director of Works:
Phillps G., Marshbrook, Salop
Hughes and Wright, Holywell St, Flint
Purdy and Millard, Howard Street, Belfast
Woodhouse W.G., 16 Brantwood Road, Lower Tottenham
Cocks J., Croft Road, Blyth
Cottier and Co. W.S., 'Bar Lock', Plymouth
Morren J., Abbey House, Elgin
Partridge A., 49 Gap Road, Wimbledon
Woodward A., Louth, Lincolnshire
Whetten and Hindmarsh, 89 Festing Grove, Southsea
Murray and Sons J., Corsehill Quarries, Annan
Sharp E., 42 Great Brunswick St, Dublin
Glascock, J., 92 St. Leonard's Road, Hove
Trill and Bolingbroke, 111 Bonchurch road, Brighton
Denny Frank, 83 Wellington Road, Bush Hill Park
Woodford Fawcett and Co., 36-38 Southampton St, Strand
Arrowsmith E.S., 58 Andalers Road, Stockwell
Maidlow R.F., 54 Bonchurch Road, Brighton
Dyer and Sons, 104 Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate
consideration of the principle of adding War Bonuses which are granted to civil servants to the salaries of staff of the Commission, with wider discussion as to the circumstances of staff in France, including specific mention of the situation of Lt. Colonel Oswald and his wife, and of a Mr Swinstead, reference to the different salaries paid, and comment that men on a certain salary at the Commission were all in charge of departments or sub-departments and must be men of experience and of a certain age, and that these men were now receiving commercial offers from outside, and comment from Fabian Ware that the old soldiers working in the cemeteries were "a most useful set of men knowing all details as to where the different graves were to be found" and noting that they wanted to settle down and bring their wives over to France; with resolution that the Vice Chairman and Financial Adviser of the Commission discuss the matter with the Treasury and report back to the Commission.
Attendees:
Major General Fabian Ware, CB, CMG (Chairman)
The Rt. Hon. Sir Alfred Mond, Bart., MP
Mr A. P. Waterfield, Esq, (representing the Treasury)
Lt. Colonel H. Ellissen (Secretary)
Also present
Lt. Colonel F. R. Durham, OBE, MC, RE (Director of Works)
Lt. Colonel C. D. Branch MC
Additional documents include:
agenda, resolutions, report and handwritten minute notes of the 11th meeting of the Finance Committee, 26th November 1919
tabulated details of expenditure of the Commission for October 1919
copy note from J.E. Talbot, Principal Assistant Secretary of the IWGC advising that the question of war bonuses was raised at the recent Commission Meeting and was being referred to the Finance Committee for consideration, 19th November 1919
letter from A.P. Waterfield to the IWGC in response to their request to him to supply an amended version of comments with regards his consideration of the request from the Exchequer and Audit Department for confirmation that all expenditure by the Commission was in accordance with Treasury sanctions which was discussed in the 10th Finance Committee meeting, and typed amendments, 24th November 1919.
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