| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Report of article in “The Times” on the Commission’s work. Mr Klerck to attend the Staff Committee meetings on behalf of South Africa. Estimates higher than anticipated due to full contribution from the UK Government to the Endowment Fund. Expenditure had actually reduced. Photos of the Nigerian War Memorial received from the Nigerian Government. Several sets of lantern slides for use by Women’s Institutes, British Legion etc. in constant demand. Report that seeds of Canadian flowers planted on Canadian graves were doing well. During his visit to Berlin, Mr. Bruce visited the Südfriedhof. He had written personally to the relatives of each of the 20 Australians buried there detailing the location of the graves. The Victoria League had been sending out books and magazines to Commission staff abroad, but this had fallen off considerably recently. Commission members asked to send any they could collect to the League.
17th Meeting Of The Staff Committee
Refers to the proposal to close the Arras School was discussed, specifically due to difficulties with large catchment area and complying with French education laws. A proposal to replace the school with scholarships or grants was under discussion. Committee had passed a resolution to reduce allowances to staff in Belgium to bring them in line with those in France.
Report Of The 219th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Expenditure from Estimates for 1933-34 discussed. Income Tax for staff in Belgium and France; Ongoing contention with Heathcote & Williams over the maintenance of the Faubourg d’Amiens Memorial going to arbitration; King Feisal of Iraq had arranged water supply to help maintain the headstones in Baghdad.
Delegation Of Finance Powers To Vice-Chairman And Authority To Expend Money For Salaries And Expenses
The Commission passed a resolution as in previous years delegating financial powers to the Vice-Chairman.
Hautrage Military Cemetery
The proposal for the erection of German headstones in Hautrage Military Cemetery was passed. Sir Frederic Kenyon commented that the recumbent German headstones would show up better than the Cross of Sacrifice among the British graves.
Concentration Of Isolated Graves
Major Chettle reported on the rate of recovery of bodies from isolated graves. No estimate could be given as to how long this would continue.
Reference to a request had been received from an ex-service society in France asking to be allowed to commemorate a local workman who had been killed while repairing the lightning conductor on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. The Commission felt that fixing the proposed memorial tablet on the memorial would not be suitable, but instead suggested a memorial on the workman’s grave from the Commission acknowledging with gratitude the work he had done for the Commission.
Attendees:
Major-General Sir Fabian Ware, K.C.V.O., K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G. (Vice-Chairman, in the Chair)
Lieut.-Colonel G.P. Vanier, D.S.O., M.C. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
Major L. E. Beavis, D.S.O. (Representing the Australian Minister in London)
V.G. Housden, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
G.W. Klerck, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
J.L. Murphy, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Newfoundland)
Lieut.-General Sir George Macdonogh, G.B.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G. (in the Chair)
Admiral Sir Morgan Singer, K.C.B., K.C.V.O.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B.
Lieut.-Colonel C.P. Oswald, O.B.E. (Assistant Secretary, Finance)
Lieut.-Colonel H.F. Robinson, C.M.G. (Director of Works)
Major H.F. Chettle, C.M.G., O.B.E., (Director of Records)
Captain E.J. King, M.C.
Mr F.C. Sillar
Mr B.S. Conyngham Greene |