| Content Note | Topics covered:
Minutes of the last meeting approved, with request for a slight alteration.
Welcome to Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, who had been previously a valued ,Member of the Commission while he was Adjutant-General at the War Office and had also served on the Anglo-Egyptian Committee.
Report Of The 292nd Meeting Of The Finance Committee: British Graves Of The Late War In Belgium
Discussion regarding maintenance of British First World War graves in Belgium, with decision to obtain a report from the Belgian authorities a report on work being carried out on the cemeteries.
Definition of a War Grave: Auxiliary Organisations
Discussion regarding the question of the acceptance of graves of members of auxiliary organisations as war graves and their temporary marking.
Definition of a War Grave: Merchant Navy
Resolution that the Commission accept for war graves commemoration deaths occurring on or after 3rd September 1939 attributable to Any of the "increased risks" referred to in the Pensions (Mercantile Marine) Act, 1942.
Negotiations With Allied Representatives
Refers to establishing a common agreement as to the care of graves of the United Nations in the United Kingdom.
Mr MacLeod raised the question of Canadian seamen serving in Dutch and Norwegian ships, and it was agreed that he would put it in writing.
Annual Report Of The Commission For The Year 1941-1942
Resolution for the adoption of the Annual Report of the Commission (1941-1942).
Armistice Day 1942
Mentions the Vice-Chairman referred to the Paper before the Meeting.
Review Of Recent Events
Apologies for absence had been received from Lord Baldwin and Sir John Kennedy.
Progress update on Sir Herbert Ellissen’s report on the question of the staff which would be required after the close of hostilities for reconstructing and continuing the Commission's work.
Mentions in emergencies, Mr Bruce would represent the other High Commissioners on the small Committee which would be summoned.
Announcement in the Press of Mr Lawson’s arrival at Chungking as a Member of a Parliamentary Mission.
Letter written to Lady Ward to express the Commission’s sympathy upon the death of her husband, Sir John Ward, Director-General of Navigation at Basra.
Mentions Christmas gifts and greetings sent to Commission staff interned in prison camps and that a photograph had been received showing ten Commission gardeners in the front row.
A report received through neutral channels appeared to suggest reconstituted French War Graves Service had carried out repairs, where necessary, in the British cemeteries of the late war in France. The damage sustained was slight, on the whole but trenches had been dug and headstones broken in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.
The next meeting would be held at 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday 20 January 1943.
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 S.S. Cole, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
Colonel C.E.T. Erskine, C.I.E., D.S.O., M.C. (Representing the Secretary of State for India)
E. MacLeod, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
V.C. Duffy, Esq., M.V.O. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
C. Knowles, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
D.B. Sole, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
W.P. Spens, Esq., O.B.E., K.C., M.P.
Air Marshal Sir William Mitchell, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C.
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B.
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B., T.D., D.Litt.
Colonel A.R. MacAllan (A.A.G., D.G.R.& E.)
Colonel C.P. Oswald, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Controller)
Lieut.-Colonel H.F. Chettle, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Director of Records)
Lieut.-Colonel F. Higginson, C.M.G. (Director of Works)
F.C. Sillar, Esq. (Assistant Secretary, Finance)
Captain H.P.R. Foster
Captain F. Tyrrell, M.B.E.
Lieut. O.D. Holt |