Content Note | Topics discussed:
Sir George Macdonough invited to take the chair in the absence of the Vice-Chairman Sir Fabian Ware.
Report on several ceremonies, with Commission representation, held following the death of the King of the Belgians. Wreath laid in the Stahnsdorf Cemetery by the German National Association for the Maintenance of War Graves, with reading of a letter addressed to the British Ambassador in Berlin. Mention that the United Kingdom Graves Committee had met twice and making progress.
230th Meeting Of The Finance Committee Discussion about the financing of the scheme to train the sons of gardeners would now pay the boys no more than £1 per week and the money would come from existing funds for wages. Gratuities on retirement from temporary positions was proposed to be at a rate of one month’s salary for each year’s temporary service with a maximum of six years. Three more senior officers were to be excluded due to their age, and none would be paid for dismissed staff. The maximum payable would be £72.
Delegation Of Financial Powers To Vice-Chairman And Authority To Expend Money For Salaries And Expenses Reference that the annual resolution concerning the delegation of financial powers to the Vice-Chairman was passed.
47th Division Memorial, High Wood Mention that the financial transfer of stock to provide for the upkeep of the 47th Divisional Memorial at High Wood was passed.
2/4th Hampshire Regiment Memorial Mention that £27 had been raised after the war to erect a memorial to the fallen of the Regiment. It had been proposed that a small memorial be placed in the Jerusalem War Cemetery. Concerns over creating a precedent or giving the impression that this was a Commission monument were raised. Agreed that wording should clarify this. Return of funds to the donors was not possible after this amount of time. Proposal was agreed.
South African Pilgrimage To The Western Front Report presented about a party of some 300 pilgrims from South Africa to the Western Front. Pilgrims subsequently to be met by the High Commissioner in London.
Concentration Of Isolated Graves In France And Belgium Mention that a marked increase in the recovery of bodies in France was reported. This was due to increased metal-searching activities (caused by the price of scrap metal) as well as deeper ploughing and the levelling of shell-torn areas.
Attendees: Lieut.-General Sir George Macdonogh, G.B.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G. (in the Chair) Colonel G.L. Pepys (Representing the Secretary of State for India) Major L.E. Beavis, D.S.O. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia) C. Knowles, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand) G.W. Klerck, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa) W. Pigott, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Newfoundland) Admiral Sir Morgan Singer, K.C.B., K.C.V.O. J.J. Lawson Esq., M.P. General Sir Cecil Romer, K.C.B., K.B.E., C.M.G.
There were also present: Colonel Sir G. Badgerow, C.M.G., C.V.O., M.D., F.R.C.S. (Canada) 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 R. Haworth, O.B.E. F.C. Sillar F. Tyrrell B.S. Conyngham Greene |