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Minutes of the last meeting approved.
Apologies for absence from Sir William Mitchell and Mr Lawson.
Post-War Organisation Membership Of The Commission
Mentions discussions took place, the minutes of which would be sent to the Commissioners under separate cover as Appendix A to these Minutes and a copy would be placed in the Minute Book.
Review Of Recent Events
Announcement of the appointment of Colonel the Hon. Deneys Reitz as High Commissioner for South Africa (and as such a Member of the Commission) in place of Mr S.F. Waterson, who was returning to South Africa. Mr Meyer would take Mr Sole's place as the High Commissioner's representative at Commission meetings.
Tribute to the late Sir Reginald Blomfield, R.A., one of the Commission’s Principal Architects.
Also refers to the death of General the Hon. Sir Herbert Lawrence, one of the three Trustees of the Endowment Fund.
Refers to Sir Alexander Harding’s letter expressing His Majesty the King’s approval of the work carried out by the Commission in difficult circumstances during the year 1941-42.
Report Of The 293rd Meeting Of The Finance Committee: Annual Estimates for 1943-44
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee, referring to reductions in expenditure on headstone maintenance, costs of staff and maintenance in Macedonia, and prospective reduction of staff in the United Kingdom. Also includes a resolution for the appointment of Sir Herbert Ellissen, Mr F.T. Sprange and a representative nominated by the Treasury to an Advisory Committee to examine the Commission’s work.
Headstone Replacements - Egypt
Refers to the paper submitted to the Meeting, in which expert opinion was in favour of the use of artificial stone to replace the deteriorated Portland and Hopton Wood headstones. There was a natural prejudice against the idea, but the Cairo Cathedral was built of artificial stone.
Maintenance Of War Graves In The UK - First Quarterly Report
Refers to burials by Royal Air Force Stations in churchyards where the graves could not be adequately maintained.
Definition Of A War Grave: Merchant Seaman
The Vice-Chairman referring to the paper before the Meeting, said that the Government of Australia had concurred and the revised definition was therefore effective.
Negotiations With Allied Representative – Second Report
Mention that no resolution was necessary and request from Colonel Chettle for the deletion of five Danish graves referred to in the paper.
War Graves In The Middle East: Recorded Talk By Mr Godfrey Talbot
The Vice-Chairman referred to the copies which had been circulated.
Authority For The Use Of The Commission’s Seal
Resolution for the assignment of the Commission’s policies to George Frederick Dear and Robert James Lee.
Definition Of A War Grave: Auxiliary Organisations.
Refers to agreements subsequently reached on the points left undecided at the Inter-Service Conference of 1 September 1942.
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.J. 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., O.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
I.T. Meyer, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
W.P. Spens, Esq., O.B,E., K.C.
Major-General Sir John Kennedy, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
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 |