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Minutes of the last meeting approved.
Mentions a letter received from Lady Purley thanking the Commission for their resolution of condolence.
Mentions a letter from the High Commissioner for South Africa informing him that when he was unable to attend Meetings of the Commission in person he would be represented by Mr E. K. Scallan, who was present at the Meeting.
Announcement of the death of Monsieur de Fleuriau.
Mention that no ceremonies had been reported from France or Belgium since the previous Meeting, but the number of Visitors signing the Visitors' Books was approximately 800 which was nearly the same figure as that for the corresponding period of the previous year.
Announcement that the First Meeting of the Anglo-Egyptian Mixed Committee had now been definitely arranged for the 24th February, and the Commission Meeting would be held on 9 March.
Mention that Herr Homing, head of the German War Graves Services and a Member of the Anglo-German-French Committee, had been in London for several days as the Commission's guest in order to discuss arrangements for the next Meeting of that Committee.
Announcement that His Majesty The King had definitely decided to unveil the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial during his official visit to France at the end of June.
Discussion over the question of the seats at the Tower Hill Memorial, whereby objection had been taken to these seats by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and others, but that any suggestion of removing them had been very strongly opposed by Toc H and the Tower Hill Improvement Council.
Report Of The 270th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee, with reference to Item 6, under which the Finance Committee recommended that the Commission should give effect to the award of the Industrial Court regarding the remuneration of the Wages Staff in France and Belgium.
Also reference to:
Item 4, which dealt with the supply of 200 additional headstones for Graves in France;
Item 5 which dealt with the disposal of an Insurance Policy in respect of Mr V. Johnson;
and Item 8B which dealt with the position of Mr. Sillar.
Appointment Of An Agency In Burma
Discussion and resolution in connection with the proposal before the Meeting which was to suggest to the Burmese Government that the Governor of Burma should be requested to act as Agent and that a Committee composed of British representatives and possibly others in that country be formed.
Appointments To The Anglo-French Mixed Committee
Resolution that Lieutenant-General Sir Sydney Muspratt, K.C.B.,C.S.I., C.I.E., D.S.O., and Medecin-General Maisonnet, be appointed Official Members of the Anglo-French Mixed Committee.
Glasgow Exhibition
Discussion in regards to Mr Sillar’s proposal for an exhibit illustrating the Commission’s work at the forthcoming Empire Exhibition at Glasgow. Photographs and a replica tablet of that placed in Westminster Abbey were suggested, as was a Cross of Sacrifice, but the Cross was deemed unsuitable for what would largely be a commercial exhibition.
Appointment To Anglo-Belgian Mixed Committee
Resolution that Mr E. K. Scallan be appointed, a Member of the Anglo-Belgian Mixed Committee in succession to Mr G. W. Klerck.
Scarborough Cemetery
Resolution regarding the position in Scarborough which was that when the 33 War Graves situated in Scarborough Cemetery were granted to the Commission by the Borough of Scarborough thirteen years ago, three of the graves were included in the grant by mistake. These three graves were surrendered to the Corporation of Scarborough by the resolution.
Discovery And Reburial Of Bodies In France And Belgium
Update on discovery of remains, noting many more bodies had been discovered and particulars were found at Neuve-Chapelle, with comment from Major Chettle explaining that the graves in this Cemetery were those of soldiers who fell in March 1915 when there was little or no organisation of burials or organised reporting of burials. Records of these graves were no doubt passed to the Director-General Graves Registration and Enquiries at the time, but when, after the War, the ground was searched by the Military Authorities no trace of the graves could be found.
Attendees:
Major-General Sir Fabian Ware, K.C.V.O., K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G, LL.D. (Vice-Chairman, 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)
E.K. Scallan, 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, Enq., M.P.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel C.P. Oswald, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Controller and Assistant Secretary, Finance)
Major H.F. Chettle, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Director of Records)
F.C. Sillar, Esq.
Captain H.P.R. Foster
B.S. Conyngham Greene, Esq.
O. Holt, Esq. |