| Content Note | Topics covered:
Apologies for absence received from the Secretary of State for War, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the High Commissioner for South Africa, and Mr Lawson.
Minutes of the last meeting approved.
Announcement of the appointment of Mr Klerck as Private Secretary to the newly nominated Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.
Mention that a box of ashes of wooden crosses had recently been received from the Port Dover Branch of the Canadian Legion with a request that they should be sent over to France and scattered in Canadian Cemetery No.2., Neuville-St. Vaast, and this had been done.
Reading of letter received from the Saskatchewan Vimy Pilgrimage Group expressing appreciation of the Commission’s work.
Mention that in recent reports received from the Commission’s Area Inspectors in the United Kingdom a marked improvement in the standard of war graves maintenance was noticed, particularly at Eastbourne, Hailsham and Hastings.
Report of “Heroes’ Day” ceremony in Potters Bar Cemetery attended by the German Ambassador in London and a large number of German nationals; the Commission was represented by Major Chettle; also notes service on same day (21 February) held in the British war cemetery at Hamburg.
Update on the number of visitors signing the Visitors' Books at the cemeteries and memorials during the month of January, which was 713. The corresponding number for January 1936 was 659.
Announcement that a meeting of the Anglo-Belgian Mixed Committee would be held in London on 16 March.
Mention it was hoped to hold a Meeting of the Anglo-German-French Mixed Committee in Berlin on the 29th April.
Report Of The 260th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Resolution for the adoption of the Report, with reference to item on page 4, which dealt with the arrangements which were being made to celebrate the Coronation in France and Belgium.
Also refers to Item 11, which was a Resolution accepting the Report of the 27th Meeting of the Staff Committee, and an extensive discussion was conducted on this matter.
Sir Fabian Ware’s Tour In Egypt, The Sudan, And Palestine
Brief summary of Sir Fabian Ware’s tour, noting the Indian cemeteries were tidy and well-kept and that, at the time when the cemeteries were constructed, the Indian Government were unable to furnish accurate lists of the names of those concerned. There were some 3,000 names concerned and these had since been published in Registers and Sir Fabian wished to address this through consultation with General Wilson.
Egyptian Ambassador
Explains Sir Fabian had taken a draft of an Agreement with him to Egypt to see if it was acceptable to the Egyptian Government and it was met with full approval. Also mentions the Commonwealth Government had also raised a question the inclusion by name of the Anzac Memorial at Port Said and the Indian Memorial at Port Tewfik in the future war graves agreement with Egypt.
Removal Of The Commission’s Offices To Palestine
Mentions it had not been possible to relocate the Commission’s headquarters in Cairo from there to Jerusalem, owing to troubles in Palestine.
Filling Vacancies On The Horticultural Staff
Discussion and resolution in connection with authority to be given to the Vice-Chairman to fill vacancies on the Commission's gardening staff, either from candidates trained at Chisledon or from among the sons of the present gardener-caretakers.
Statement from Stanley Baldwin welcoming His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester and expressing his suitability for the role of President of the Commission, which His Royal Highness’s brother, the King, had had to give up.
Response from His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester to Stanley Baldwin on assuming the Presidency of the Commission.
Attendees:
His Royal Highness The Duke Of Gloucester, K.G., K.P., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O. (President, in the Chair)
Major-General Sir Fabian Ware, K.C.V.O., K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., LL.D. (Vice-Chairman)
Major-General R.C. Wilson, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. (Representing the Secretary of State for India)
The Rt.Hon. Earl Stanhope, K.G., D.S.O., M.C., D.L. (First Commissioner of Works)
The Hon. Vincent Massey (High Commissioner for Canada)
The Rt.Hon. Stanley M. Bruce, C.H., M.C. (High Commissioner for Australia)
The Hon. W.J. Jordan (High Commissioner for New Zealand)
G.W. Klerck, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Lieut.-General Sir George Macdonogh, G.B.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Stanley, M.C., M.P.
W.P. Spens, Esq., O.B.E., K.C., M.P.
General Sir Harry Knox, K.C.B., D.S.O.
The Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin, M.P.
There were also present:
Major Howard, C.M.G., M.V.O., O.B.E. (Equerry)
Colonel Sir George Badgerow, C.M.G., C.V.O., M.D., F.R.C.S. (Canada)
V.C. Duffy, Esq., M.V.O. (Australia)
Lieut.-Colonel C.P. Oswald, C.M.G.,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)
Lieut.-Colonel F. Higginson
B.S. Conyngham Greene, Esq. |