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Circulation, approval, and signing of the Minutes of the 252nd Meeting with request from Mc MacLeod to amend the Minutes of the 251st Meeting.
Apologies for absence received from Mr Lawson and Mr D. James Davies.
Review Of Recent Events
The Commission had again received a report from the Swiss Consulate-General at Copenhagen on the British war graves in Denmark. The graves in the Provinces had all been inspected by the local clergy, and were in good order.
Colonel Osborne, the Secretary to the Commission's Canadian Agency, had reported that nine present war graves in Woodlawn Park Cemetery, Miami, Florida, would be given perpetual care without charge by the Cemetery Company. Mentions a Mrs Bradley of Baltimore had placed flowers on the graves and written to the next-of-kin.
Information had been received in March that trees had been cut down in the South African Government's property at Delville Wood and, to a less extent, in the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont-Hamel.
On Sunday 31 October, ceremonies were held in the French sections at. Brookwood and Beaconsfield cemeteries.
Mention that Count Memmo's Report on the care of British graves in Italy had been circulated.
Suggestion That The Maltese Cross Should Be Engraved On Headstones In Malta
Discussion regarding suggestion received from the wife of an officer buried in Malta for the Maltese cross to be engraved on headstones in Malta. Agreement reached that the adoption of the Maltese Cross would be a departure from the accepted principle of uniformity of treatment and might lead to requests for crosses of every sort.
Report Of The 298th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee, with reference to:
Item 5, which reported the recommendation for the raising of the salary of Captain E.J. Scholtz, Secretary to the South African Agency.
Item 8 concerned a number of new appointments recommended in Sir Herbert Ellissen's report. The first, that of Chief Accountant and Acting Deputy to the Assistant Secretary, Finance, had been filled by the promotion of Mr C.R. Kirton, the present Accountant.
Planting Of Flowers On War Graves In The United Kingdom
Discussion regarding horticultural treatment of war graves in churchyards and cemeteries in the United Kingdom and whether it would follow that carried out by the Commission elsewhere.
Indian Burials And Cremations
Discussion regarding commemoration of Indian burials and cremations. Also refers to commemoration of African war dead. Resolution refers to the erection of individual headstones over the graves of identified Muslims; the placing of suitable markings upon selected cremation grounds in the case of Hindus and Sikhs; and the recording of all Indian "Missing'" by name on suitable memorials to be decided upon in conjunction with the general problem of "Missing" commemoration. Also defers decision to erect permanent memorials to Indian war dead until permanent commemoration in all parts of the Empire could be undertaken.
Anglo-Palestine War Cemeteries Executive Committee
Refers to appointment of all four District Commissioners in Palestine where there were war graves to the Anglo-Palestine War Cemeteries Executive Committee.
Maintenance Of British Cemeteries Of The Late War In Greece
Refers to gratitude to Sir John Kennedy for his interest in the matter and letters written to Geneva about the needs of Commission staff in Greece.
Armistice Ceremonies
Refers to account of ceremonies at Westminster Abbey and the Vice-Chairman’s broadcast for Armistice Day.
Appointment Of “Proper Officers”
Resolution that, as a result of Colonel Oswald’s retirement, three Assistant Secretaries (Higginson, Chettle, and Sillar) be appointed Proper Officers of the Commission with the authority to sign notices and documents
The next meeting would be held on Wednesday 15 December 1943 at 11.30 a.m.
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)
Sir Samuel Runganadhan (High Commissioner for India)
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 Right Hon. Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, K.G.
Major-General Sir John Kennedy, K.B.E., 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.
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B.
Colonel Sir John Shute, C.M.G., D.S.O., J.P., M.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 S.G.G. Fraser, M.C. (A.A.G., D.G.R. & E.)
Lieut.-Colonel F. Higginson, C.M.G. (Controller and Director of Works)
Lieut.-Colonel H.F. Chettle, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Director of Records)
F.C. Sillar, Esq. (Assistant Secretary, Finance)
Captain F. Tyrrell, M.B.E.
Lieut. O.D. Holt
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