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Sir George Macdonogh took the Chair and the Minutes of the last Meeting were approved.
Mention that Sir Fabian Ware had sailed for Canada on the previous Friday. He had gone to consult the Canadian Government on matters connected with the Commission.
Announcement of ill health of Admiral Sir Morgan Singer who was unable to attend meetings at the Commission and the Finance Committee.
Update on the new horticultural treatment at Stahnsdorf Cemetery in Berlin.
Report that, in connection with Armistice Day, a party of seven Gardener-Caretakers had come from France to attend the British Legion Festival at the Albert Hall. They brought with them a wreath composed of flowers grown in the war cemeteries, and this was laid in Westminster Abbey on the evening of 10 November.
Mentions Sir Fabian Ware’s broadcast on war graves on 11 November.
Mentions Colonel Robinson represented the Commission at the Tower Hill Memorial and Mr Housden represented the Commission at Brookwood.
Summary of wreath-laying ceremonies in Paris and Brussels.
Mentions, on 8 November, Major Chettle addressed the Hendon Rotary Club about the Commission’s work and Lord Courtown addressed Aylesbury Rotary Club on the same day.
Report Of The 267th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Resolution for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee with reference to:
Item 3, which showed there were now only some 1,600 German graves in British Cemeteries in France requiring headstones.
Item 6, which authorised the Vice-Chairman, in consultation with the Treasury, to take any action that might be desirable if there was a further marked rise in the cost of living in France and Belgium.
Tower Hill Memorial
Refers to correspondence and complaints with the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and with Toc H. Transcript of letter received from W.T.C. Smith on behalf of the Company of Master Mariners appears in the minutes. Notes reports of homeless people in London who were using the Memorial for shelter and proposals for erection of a “chevaux de fries”, the removal of the benches, and the provision of artificial lighting.
Report Of The 15th Meeting Of The Education Committee
Resolution for the adoption of the Report of the Education Committee.
Anglo-Italian Mixed Committee
Resolution appointing Marshal Caviglia and Count Grandi as Honorary Members of the Anglo-Italian Mixed Committee.
Erection Of Headstones On Privately Marked Graves In The United Kingdom
Discussion on the Commission’s policy in regard to privately marked graves in the United Kingdom, with introductory report by Mr Conyngham Greene. It was agreed to continue to erect headstones as in the past.
Abney Park Cemeteries
Resolution agreeing to a reduction in the maintenance charges for the War Graves in control of the Abney Park Cemetery Company Limited.
Discovery And Reburial Of Bodies In France And Belgium
Update on the recovery of remains, namely that there was a considerable falling off in the number of British bodies that had been found, but that no definite conclusions could be drawn from the figures. Mentions in the corresponding period there was an increase in the number of French and German bodies that had been found by the French Graves Service in the Pas-de-Calais.
Attendees:
Lieut.-General Sir George Macdonogh, G.B.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G. (In the Chair)
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)
V.C. Duffy, Esq., M.V.O. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
A.L. Albright, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
The Hon. Sir Edgar Bowring, K.C.M.G. (Representing Newfoundland)
The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.C., M.P.
W.P. Spens, Esq., O.B.E., K.C., M.P.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B.
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. Tyrrell, Esq., M.B.E.
B.S. Conyngham Greene, Esq.
O. Holt, Esq. |