| Content Note | Topics covered:
Circulation, approval and signing of the Minutes of the 273rd Meeting of the Commission.
Apologies for absence received from Sir Samuel Runganadhan, who was attending the International Labour Conference in Paris, from Colonel Cole, who was at Liverpool meeting liberated prisoners of war and interned civilians arriving from the Far East, from Sir William Halcrow, and from Sir John Kennedy.
Welcome to Lord Wigram, who was attending a meeting of the Commission for the first time. Lord Wigram had an intimate knowledge of their work dating from the last war, when he had accompanied King George V on two memorable pilgrimages to France and Belgium in 1922, and to Italy in 1923.
Announcement of the death on 7 September 1945 of General Sir Walter Braithwaite, who, as Adjutant-General to the Forces, had been a member of the Commission from 1927 to 1931.
Review Of Recent Events
Mentions letter from General de Gaulle who had written that it was his desire to bring the Anglo- French Committee into being again.
Announcement that a party of twelve gardeners had left for France and Belgium the previous day. The first party had been sent across in January, and to date twelve parties had been sent out, comprising a total of 135 men. There were now 200 men working in the cemeteries. Four gardeners would be leaving for Germany later in the present month.
Captain Scholtz, Secretary for the South African Agency, had been invited to the United Kingdom for consultations.
Major F.M. Little, Secretary of the Gibraltar Agency, had returned to the United Kingdom and was succeeded by Major H.F. Walls.
Handover of Anzio Beach Head and Military Cemeteries to the Commission’s Area Superintendent, Italy on 1 September 1945.
Ceremonies held at Albert and Ypres on 3 September 1945 to mark the anniversary of liberation.
Private letter from Lady Scobie, wife of the G.O.C. in Greece, in which she said that the Greeks took a touching interest in the British graves and frequently decorated them with wreaths.
Arrangements made for annual wreath-laying ceremony at Westminster Abbey on behalf of the gardening staff on Friday 9 November at 12 noon.
Report Of The 317th Meeting Of The Finance Committee
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee, including reference to:
Item 4, which concerned the cost of preparing a printed list of the names of Civilian War Dead for placing in the Memorial in Westminster Abbey.
Item 6, which concerned the Special Committee set up to deal with the question of the accommodation of Government departments in London.
Other items of interest included in the Report were: the supply of electricity and telephone services at the Canadian Reception Room at Brookwood Cemetery; repairs to the Menin Gate Memorial; the construction of two Crosses of Sacrifice for Tobruk and Sollum Cemeteries; new motor transport and horticultural machinery; the appointment of a new Deputy Director of Works and Horticultural Officer; and the appointment of Major W.J. Chalmers as Administrative Assistant, Finance Department.
The final item dealt with the appointment of Brigadier H.N. Obbard as Inspector for India and South-East Asia.
Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund
Discussion regarding the business of the Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund.
Graves In Japan And Other Enemy Countries
Discussion regarding the treatment of graves situated in Japan and other former enemy countries.
Graves Of Members Of The Newfoundland Forestry Unit
Resolution that the graves of members of the Newfoundland Forestry Unit dying in the United Kingdom be accepted as war graves.
Auxiliary Organisations – New Zealand
Resolution that the recommendation of the New Zealand Government as to certain auxiliary organisations to be accorded war graves recognition, particulars of which are set out in the paper before the meeting be approved.
Conference Of U.K. Cemetery Authorities, London – 19th/20th September 1945
Account regarding the conference held at Brookwood which covered cemetery maintenance, the general question of war memorials, and relations with the United States authorities at Brookwood.
Maintenance Of War Graves, United Kingdom – 12th Quarterly Report
Attention drawn to report which described the ceremony of sounding the Last Post at Brookwood Cemetery on the first Sunday of each month.
Date Of Next Meeting
The next meeting would be held on Thursday 15 November 1945.
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 E.H. Jones, D.C.M., E.D. (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)
I.T. Meyer, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
D. James Davies, Esq., C.B.E., J.P. Representing the Government Of Newfoundland)
E.L. Pounde, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
General Sir Ronald Adam, Bt., K.C.B., D.S.O., O.B.E. (Adjutant-General)
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.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O., D.L.
Colonel the Lord Wigram, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.S.I.
There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B.
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)
Brigadier F. Higginson. C.M.G. (Controller)
Lieut.-Colonel H.F. Chettle, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Director of Records)
F.C. Sillar, Esq. (Assistant Secretary, Finance)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Bateman (Director of Works)
Captain H.P.R. Foster (Legal Assistant)
Major R.W. Murphy, M.B.E. (Area Superintendent, United Kingdom)
Captain F. Tyrrell, M.B.E.
Lieutenant O.D. Holt |