| Content Note | Topics covered:
Circulation, approval, and signing of the Minutes of the 258th Meeting, with amendment requested by Mr Knowles.
Apologies for absence received from Lord Baldwin, Sir William Mitchell, Admiral Dunbar-Nasmith, and Sir John Kennedy.
Welcome to Mr R. Petrie who was representing the High Commissioner for South Africa.
Review Of Recent Events
Announcement that prints of the Supplemental Charter giving effect to the change desired in the representation of the Government of India on the Commission had been received and circulated to members.
Reading of letter received from Mr Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, in acknowledgement of receipt of the Commission’s 24th Annual Report.
Reference to Sir Ralph Glyn's question in the House of Commons regarding the issue of an interim Report on the work of the Commission and Sir James Grigg's reply, with follow up suggestion of bringing the Commission’s annual report to the notice of the House.
Announcement of rededication of the Warrior’s Chapel as St. George’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey on Sunday 23 April 1944, where Colonel Chettle had represented the Commission.
General Williams represented the Commission at the annual Anzac Day Service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and a Service of Remembrance was held on St. George’s Day at the “Soldier’s Corner” in Warrington Cemetery.
Purchase by the Commission of four pieces of land as extensions of the American 1914-1918 cemetery from the London Necropolis Company. Arrangements being made for adjacent War Department land, known as Dawney’s Hill, to be made available.
Report Of The 303rd Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee, with reference to:
Item 2, which concerned a new arrangement to enable Mr Sakharoff to carry out the Commission’s work in Greece.
Item 3, contained a recommendation for the increase of Count Memmo’s salary and that of his staff by 30 per cent.
Item 5, concerned the erection of hutments at Wooburn House to accommodate additional staff.
Also refers to request for authority to engage more staff sent to the Man-Power Authorities.
Report Of The Third Meeting Of The Anglo-Egyptian War Cemeteries Committee
Comment from the Vice-Chairman that the Report gave evidence of the satisfactory work which the Committee had done and he thought that General Williams, the Secretary-General of the Committee, could be congratulated on a successful meeting.
Mentions presence of several prominent Egyptian officials at the meeting and that the Egyptian government had agreed to accept in principle the extension of the Anglo-Egyptian War Graves Agreement of 1937.
Definition Of A War Grave: National Fire Service (Volunteer Contingent For Overseas Service)
Resolution that the Commission accept as Service dead for the purpose of war-grave treatment members of the volunteer contingent of the National Fire Service who while serving with the combatant forces may die overseas, or from wounds inflicted overseas.
Commission Staff Detained Abroad
Update on progress of the work of the Committee from Mr Lawson (who was Chairman).
Headstone Badge Reports: First Report
Discussion of paper presented at the Meeting, explaining the chief problem was presented by the converted regiments and by the need to secure a ruling as to which badge each regiment desired should be carved on the headstone, with comment from General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson that each of the Yeomanry Regiments desired to keep their own badge.
The War Office had provided a list of all converted regiments for the Commission’s use.
The Vice-Chairman also explained MacDonald Gill was paid a standard fee for each badge designed.
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)
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)
R. Petrie Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
D. James Davies Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the Government of Newfoundland)
Lieut.-Colonel S.J. Cole, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
J.J. Lawson Esq., M.P.
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Colonel Sir John Shute, C.M.G., D.S.O., J.P., M.P.
There were also present:
Lieut. -Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.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. and 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.
Lieutenant O.D. Holt |