| Content Note | Topics covered:
Approval and signing of the Minutes of the last Meeting.
Welcome to Mr Lawson, on his return from China and the Middle East, and Sir Herbert Ellissen, the Commission's newly appointed Adviser on Post-War Organisation and Reconstruction.
The King had received the Vice-Chairman at Buckingham Palace on the 25th February, when he had submitted to His Majesty the bound volumes of Civilian War Dead compiled by the Commission.
Proposal That The Commission Should Take Over Certain Cemeteries Of The Present War In Areas No Longer The Scene Of Active Operations
After a discussion on the topic, it was decided that a special meeting should be called for 2.30 p.m. on Friday, the 26th March.
Personal Inscriptions On Headstones
Discussion regarding the Commission’s policy for payment for personal inscriptions on headstones from next of kin. It was agreed that Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson should examine the question and submit proposals.
Review Of Recent Events
Refers to a case where the German authorities instructed the Souvenir Francais to erect a headstone over a British airman’s grave in Dijon and the Souvenir Francais were now requesting for payment through the Swiss Government.
Short account of Armistice Day ceremonies in Palestine and Egypt from the Vice-Chairman, including a Polish ceremony in Ramleh and another attended by Italian prisoners-of-war. Also refers to a wreath laying ceremony in Cairo.
Report received from the Swiss Legation at Copenhagen of horticultural work carried out by the Danish people to the British graves in Copenhagen Western Cemetery and in the cemeteries at Hune, Rindby and Tinglev.
The Vice-Chairman was in touch with Kew Gardens on the question of a successor to the late Sir Arthur Hill, Director of Kew Gardens, as horticultural adviser to the Commission.
Report Of The Special Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the Report which dealt with two matters: the appointment of the Adviser on Post-War Organisation and Construction, and the payments which the Committee recommended should be made to the Commission's staff in Macedonia.
Report Of The 294th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee, with reference to:
Item 5, which concerned graves in Canada.
Item 6, which concerned the disposal of maturing policies held under the Superannuation Scheme in respect of personnel interned in enemy territory.
Item 7, which concerned Commission staff who returned from France and were employed in England.
Item 8, which concerned tenders for the supply and erection of replacement headstones in Egypt.
Superannuation Scheme – Policies Relating To Staff In Enemy Territory
Resolution approving the recommendations outlined in Item 6 of the Report of the 294th Finance Committee Meeting.
Membership Of The Anglo-Egyptian, The Iraq And The Anglo-Palestine Committees
Refers to the resolution of the 238th Meeting held in September 1941 and update that the appointments had been made by the Vice-Chairman. The new appointments were named in Paper 6 of the Agenda which had been circulated. The Commission took note of these appointments.
Appointment Of A Trustee To The Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund
Resolution concerning the appointment of Colonel Eric Gore Browne, D.S.O., O.B.E., T.D., A.D.C., to be a Trustee of the Endowment Fund to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of General the Honourable Sir Herbert Alexander Lawrence, G.C.B.
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)
Colonel C.E.T. Erskine, C.I.E., D.S.O., M.C. (Representing the Secretary of State for India)
C. Knowles, Esq., O.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
I.T. Meyer, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
General Sir Ronald Adam, Bt., K.C.B., D.S.O., O.B.E.
W.P. Spens, Esq., O.B,E., K.C.
J. J. Lawson, Esq., M.P.
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B.
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B. ,C.M.G., D.S.O.
Air Chief Marshal Sir William Mitchell, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B., T.D.; D.Litt.
Colonel Sir John Shute, C.M.G., D.S.O., T.D., M.P., D.L., J.P.
Lieut.-Colonel R.H. Hoffman (A.D.G.R. & E., M.E.F.)
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
Colonel C.P. Oswald, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Controller)
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 |