| Content Note | Topics covered:
Circulation, approval and signing of the Minutes of the 268th Meeting.
Mentions letter received from the Chairman explaining his inability to attend the Meeting.
Welcome to the High Commissioners for Canada and Australia.
Apologies for absence received from Mr Lawson, Sir John Shute, the Adjutant-General and from Sir John Kennedy. Sir David Meek was also unable to attend owing to illness.
Report Of The 313th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the report, with comment from Mr Sillar that the only item of particular interest was the last item which concerned the grant of special allowances to two members of the Commission’s staff in France and Belgium.
Croydon (Queen’s Road) Cemetery – Assignment Of Late War Grave
Brief discussion leading to resolution that the Seal of the Commission be affixed to and the Proper Officer sign, the assignment of the grave of Gunner H.T. Keeling, numbered 35175 in Plot KK1 in Croydon (Queen's Road) Cemetery, to Frederick William Keeling, a son of the deceased.
Superannuation Scheme – Assignment Of The Commission’s Policies – Gardener-Caretaker G.C. Davis
Resolution that authority be granted for the Commission's Seal to be affixed to the assignment for Gardener-Caretaker G.C. Davis of two polices in the Commission’s name under the Superannuation Scheme.
Exhumation And Repatriation Of Bodies From Overseas
Summary of discussions which took place in December 1918 and 1922 regarding the Commission’s policy in regards to exhumation and repatriation from overseas.
Mentions that a similar course was recommended in response to the number of requests for repatriation received from next-of-kin for the Second World War.
Also discusses the work of the Graves Registration Services in concentrating isolated Air Force and Navy graves into recognised cemeteries.
Review Of Recent Events
The Vice-Chairman had given an address on the work of the Commission at the House of Commons on 10 May 1945.
Work in France was progressing well according to the reports received from General Roberts.
Colonel Hoffman was in England to discuss work in Italy and Louis de Soissons was on a tour in Italy and Greece.
Another party of eleven Commission men had departed for Arras at the end of April. The number of staff in France and Belgium was now 95.
Reports of Faenza Communal Cemetery being badly damaged, and arrangements were made for the caretaker to maintain the graves.
Dr Evatt, the Australian Minister for Finance, had visited Villers-Bretonneux Memorial and placed a sheaf of flowers at the foot of the memorial. Also discusses the damage incurred during the war.
General Williams had reported seven more cemeteries in the Eastern District had been taken over from the Graves Registration Service. These were Mosul New Military Cemetery (145 graves); Habbaniya British Cemetery (175 graves); Abadan Christian Cemetery (50 graves); Khanaquin Miliitary Cemetery (523 graves); the new plots of Basra War Cemetery (322 graves); Damascus British War Cemetery and Extension (447 graves); and Beirut New British War Cemetery (525 graves). Reports of some damage and difficulties obtaining tools in Greece.
Update on selection of site for the new cemetery at Athens and that Louis de Soissons had gone to advise.
Update that Keren War Cemetery had been completed.
24 more gardeners had been released from captivity in Germany and were en route to their homes in France.
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)
The Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey (High Commissioner for Canada)
The Rt. Hon. Stanley M. Bruce, C.H., M.C. (High Commissioner for Australia)
C. Knowles, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
The Hon. G. Heaton Nicholls (High Commissioner for South Africa)
D. James Davies, Esq., C.B.E., J.P. (Representing the Government of Newfoundland)
S.N. Dutt, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Lieut.-Colonel S.J. Cole, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O., D.L.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B.
Sir William Halcrow, M. Inst C.E.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E. (Adviser on Post-War Organisation and Reconstruction)
Brigadier J.K. McNair, C.B.E. (Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries, War Office)
Colonel E.H. Jones, D.C.M., E.D.
V. C. Duffy, Esq., M.V.O.
Brigadier 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 |