| Content Note | Topics covered:
Circulation, approval, and signing of the Minutes of the 247th and 248th (Special) Meetings.
Update on Committee formed to continue the Commission’s work should the Vice-Chairman be unable to; Sir Patrick Spens was to be replaced by Mr Lawson. Also mentions proposal to include Trustees of the Endowment Fund and invitation for Sir Edward Peacock to join the Committee.
Report Of The 295th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee and comment from the Vice-Chairman that adoption of the for Report would carry the estimate for the work of construction on new war graves in the North African Area.
Membership Of The Finance Committee
Resolution that Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B., and Colonel Sir John Shute, C.M.G., D.S.O., T.D., M.P., D.L., J.P. be appointed members of the Finance Committee.
Definition Of A War Grave: Auxiliary Organisations
Resolution regarding the recommendations for certain auxiliary organisations be accorded war graves recognition put forward by the Canadian Government and the South African Government.
Negotiations With Allied Representatives – Third Report
Comment from the Vice-Chairman that the paper submitted was evidence of the excellent relations maintained by Colonel Chettle on the Commission's behalf with the representatives of the Allies in this country. No action was necessary.
Maintenance Of War Graves In The United Kingdom
Overview of report submitted at the Meeting, including reference to Brookwood Cemetery and the proposed scheme for the creation of regional cemeteries for R.A.F. burials under consideration by the Air Ministry, referring to offer of land near Abingdon by Sir Ralph Glyn M.P. for a suitable site at Oxford included in the regional scheme.
Destruction Of Headstones In Dunkerque Town Cemetery
Refers to request from the Secretariat-General des Anciens Combattants in Paris for plans and supplies so the cemetery could be reconstructed and the damaged headstones replaced by wooden or concrete crosses.
Headstone For The Grave Of A British Airman At Dijon
Mentions the Foreign Office had agreed that the Souvenir Francais should be informed through Swiss channels that the German action in ordering the erection of a headstone for this grave was not in accordance with International law, and that therefore the Commission could not deal with the question of repayment until after the war.
Staff Formerly Employed By The Commission In France And Belgium
Refers to the internment of Commission staff in France and Belgium, to whom the Commission had sent Christmas parcels and the Red Cross sent a food parcel to the value of 10 shillings and regular supplies of clothing.
Retention Or Omission Of Regimental Numbers On Headstones For Graves Of The Present War
Discussion regarding proposal to retain or omit regimental headstones on graves of the present war, with views supporting retention including that the regimental numbers were important for identifying servicemen, particularly from Highland and colonial regiments, but also for the next-of-kin visiting the grave.
Payment For Inscriptions On Headstones
Reading of passage from The Graves Of The Fallen by Rudyard Kipling, with discussion regarding the modification of the Commission’s policy for the payment for personal inscriptions on headstones and the views of the Member Governments regarding personal inscriptions.
Appointment Of Principal Architect
Agreement of the recommendation from Sir Frederic Kenyon that the Commission appoint Mr John Hubert Worthington for the post of Principal Architect for North Africa.
The next meeting would be held on Wednesday 21 July 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)
E. MacLeod, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
C. Knowles, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
I.T. Meyer, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Colonel C.E.T. Erskine, C.I.E., D.S.O., M.C. (Representing the Secretary of State for India)
Lieut.-Colonel S.J. Cole, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
The Rt. Hon. Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, K.G.
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.
Major-General Sir John Kennedy, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Colonel Sir John Shute, C.M.G., D.S.O., T.D., M.P., D.L., J.P.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, C.B.E., K.C.B., T.D., D.Litt.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E. (Adviser on Post-War Organisation and Reconstruction)
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)
Captain F. Tyrrell, M.B.E
F.C. Sillar, Esq. (Assistant Secretary, Finance)
Lieut. O.D. Holt |