| Content Note | Topics covered:
Minutes of the last meeting approved.
Welcome to the new Chairman Mr Hore-Belisha, who was attending the Commission Meeting for the first time.
Apologies for absence from Lord Baldwin.
Mention that Lord Stanley had undergone an operation and was in the process of recovery.
Announcement and telegram sent in connection with the death of Sir Robert Borden.
Update on the progress made regarding the publication of the Report on the Commission’s work, which had recently been presented to the Imperial Conference.
Report on visit by Mr Lyons, the Premier of Australia, Sir Archdale Parkhill, Commonwealth Minister of Defence, and Mr T.H. Scholfield, an Australian Member of Parliament, with comments about the Australian memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Summary of report from Major Menzies, the Commission’s representative in Macedonia, who had concluded one of his periodical tours of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania.
Reports of ceremonies received since the last Meeting, including at Niederzwehren Cemetery, which was described as the largest ceremony of its kind held in one of the Commission’s cemeteries in Germany.
Update on the number of visitors signing the Visitors’ Books at Cemeteries and Memorials in France and Belgium during May, which was 11,561; the figures for June were 15,737, and the corresponding figures for May and June 1936 were 9,075 and 15,409 respectively.
Refers to statement on keen general interest in the Commission’s work, with around fifty to sixty letters being received every week about information for visiting cemeteries in France and Belgium. Notes many letters were from sons and daughters of casualties as opposed to parents and widows. Also mentions telephone enquiries made to the Commission and visits to the Commission’s office regarding information about the graves.
Mention that, on 21 June, the School-children of Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe performed what had now become an annual ceremony - namely, placing flowers on all the War Graves in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, where some 490 soldiers were buried, the majority of whom were Canadians.
Mention of unsuccessful appeal for funds to safeguard Jerusalem War Cemetery.
Report of meeting convened by General Vincensini in Paris with invites extended to British, German and Italian representatives concerned with war graves. Summary of proceedings and note the conference was the first time that representatives of many nations interested in the common task of commemorating the First World War dead.
Update on negotiations with regards to arranging a meeting of the Anglo-Italian Mixed Committee in London in October.
Graves In South Russia And Transcaucasia.
Discussion regarding the marking of British graves in south Russia and Transcaucasia, including at Tiflis. Suggestion for a Gallipoli type of marker to be used.
Hautrage Military Cemetery
Discussion about future upkeep of Hautrage Military Cemetery.
Maintenance Of War Graves In East Africa
Discussion regarding an article in the Tanganyika Standard which stated war graves in Tanganyika Territory were badly neglected. The Vice-Chairman said that the work was undertaken direct by the Government and that reports were received regularly of inspections from the Government Officials in the districts concerned.
Reports Of The 263rd And 264th Meetings Of The Finance Committee
Resolution for the adoption of both reports of the Finance Committee, with reference to Item 4 in the Report of the 263rd Meeting, which dealt with the arrangements recently concluded with the Cambridge University Press for the publication of the Report on the Commission's work, which had been presented to the Imperial Conference. Also attention drawn to Item 5A, which dealt with certain allowances made to members of the Staff in receipt of salaries of over £400 a year on account of changes in the rate of exchange.
Delegation Of Financial Powers To The Vice-Chairman
Resolution granting financial authority to the Vice-Chairman for the following: to sanction and incur expenditure necessary to carry into effect any of the purposes or to exercises any of the powers of the Commission for items of minor expenditure; to appoint and employ Commission staff; to authorise after investigation the write-off of losses; and authorisation to expend out of the Commissions fund moneys necessary to pay salaries and meet expenses in accordance with the estimate for the year 1937/8.
Anglo-French Mixed Committee
Resolution for the appointment of Sir Eric Phipps and Sir Philip Chetwode be appointed Honorary Members of the Commission’s Anglo-French Mixed Committee.
Anglo-German-French Mixed Committee
Resolution for the appointment of Sir Nevile Meyrick Henderson as an Honorary Member of the Anglo-German-French Mixed Committee of the Commission.
Appointment of New Member Of The Education Committee
Resolution for the appointment of Mr C.F. Markham to the Education Committee in place of Mr H.J.R. Murray who resigned on account of ill health.
Attendees:
The Rt. Hon. L. Hore-Belisha, M.P. (Secretary of State for War, in the Chair)
Major-General Sir Fabian Ware, K.C.V.O., K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., LL.D. (Vice-Chairman)
Lieut.-Colonel A.F. Rawson Lumby, C.I.E., O.B.E. (Representing the Secretary of State for India)
Lieut.-Colonel G.P. Vanier, D.S.O., M.C. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
F.T. Sprange, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
S.R. Skinner, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
G.A. Jenkin, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Lieut.-General Sir George Macdonogh, G.B.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G.
Admiral Sir Morgan Singer, K.C.B., K.C.V.O.
J.J. Lawson, Esq., M.P.
General Sir Harry Knox, K.C.B., D.S.O.
There were also present:
Edmund Blunden, Esq., M.C.
A. Lewis Watson, Esq. (Assistant to Secretary-General, Canadian Agency)
Lieut.-Colonel C.P. Oswald, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Controller and 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)
F.C. Sillar, Esq.
B.S. Conyngham Greene, Esq.
O. Holt, Esq. |