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Approval of the Minutes of the last Meeting.
Apologies for absence received from Sir George Macdonogh, who had recently had a minor accident.
Resolution for the temporary appointment of F.C. Sillar as Acting Assistant Secretary, Finance, and Acting Secretary to the Finance Committee, as Colonel Oswald was absent undergoing an eye operation.
Appointment Of Special Committee
Discussion and resolution concerning appointment of a Special Committee to review the current and probable future expenditure of the Commission, with three members; one appointed by the Commission, one appointed by the Treasury, and one the Trustees of the Endowment Fund.
Announcement of the death of Captain John Scott Parker, with brief summary of his life and career with the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries during the First World War, building on the horticultural work of his predecessor Arthur Blunt with the Commission, and his leadership of the travelling gardening parties. Includes mention of appreciation published in The Times by Sir Arthur Hill and suggestion for a plaque to placed in the church at Bitton where Captain Parker lived and his father had been Rector.
Brief report of Major Chettle’s visits to Rome and Paris.
Report of ceremony at the grave of Colonel MacCrae in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, which included “In Flanders’ Fields”.
Report of ceremony organised by the German community at Potter’s Bar Cemetery on 13 March.
Mentions the Commission possessed several sets of lantern slides illustrating the work of the Commission lent from time to time to lecturers, and a recent letter from the Secretary of the Aberdeen Branch of the British Legion, about a number of events he had exhibited the slides in north-eastern Scotland.
Announcement of the disappearance of Mr Khlebnikov, who for the past twelve years had been the caretaker of Cathcart Hill Cemetery, the Crimean war cemetery at Sevastopol.
Refers to press statement on 6 March by the Metropolitan Branch of the British Legion to the effect that British war graves in the United Kingdom were neglected.
Announcement of the publication of the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Commission the following day and copies were on the table at the Meeting for Members to see.
Update on the numbers of visitors signing the Visitors’ Books at the cemeteries and memorials during the month of January which was 779, which was approximately the same as for the corresponding period of the previous year.
Report Of The 271st Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Resolution for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee.
Report Of The 16th Meeting Of The Education Committee
Refers to progress of the educational grants with regards to two boys, Jack Kershaw and George Peach. Resolution for the adoption of the Report of the Education Committee.
The Vice-Chairman’s Visit To Egypt And Palestine
Brief summary of the Vice-Chairman’s visit to Egypt and Palestine, including an audience with King Farouk in Cairo.
Appointment Of Chief Administrative Officer, Eastern District
Resolution for the appointment of Brigadier-General Sir Herbert Hart, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. as Chief Administrative Officer, Eastern District.
Delegation Of Financial Powers To Vice-Chairman
Resolution for the delegation of financial powers to the Vice-Chairman for minor items of expenditure, appointment and employment of Commission staff, and authorisation (after investigation) of write-offs of losses.
Discovery And Reburial Of Bodies In France And Belgium
Update that the number of bodies being discovered continued to fall; a pattern that had persisted since August 1937.
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)
E. Macleod, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
V.C. Duffy, Esq., M.V.O. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
W.J. Jordan, Esq. (High Commissioner for New Zealand)
E.K. Scallan, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Admiral Sir Morgan Singer, K.C.B., K.C.V.O.
W.P. Spens, Esq., O.B.E., K.C., M.P.
There were also present:
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. |