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Mention that the Minutes or the 285th Meeting had been circulated and that a clerical error had been pointed out by the Colonial Office in Resolution No.6 regarding Auxiliary Organisations in Malaya and Hong Kong. The resolution covered the Auxiliary Nursing Services in both Hong Kong and Malaya, but in fact the reference should have been to Hong Kong alone.
Approval of the Minutes of the 285th Meeting and attention brought to two slight errors in the Minutes of the 284th Meeting relating to the retirement or Mr T.A. Rhodes from the Chairmanship of the South African Agency.
Review of Recent Events
Update on progress of constructional work and mention that the Commission were going through a difficult period owing to illness among important members or their staff. Mr Sillar had been ill, and Mr King was kept away from the office by sickness.
Mentions Remembrance Day ceremonies at Westminster Abbey (including Gardeners Service, where a wreath was brought over from France in which Maple Leaf and also chrysanthemums were included).
Mentions All Saints Day ceremony at Brookwood where the French ambassador was present.
Report received on the R.A.F. cemetery at Nassau, Bahamas, stating construction was being undertaken by the United States Post Engineers and its embellishment and horticultural treatment by a women’s organisation known as The Imperial Order, Daughters of the Empire.
Report of visit to Italy by Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, Mr Sprange, Colonel Russell Edmunds, and Mr Sillar, with comments on cemeteries at Naples, Minturno, Caserta, Monte Cassino, Anzio (Beach Head and Military), American cemetery at Anzio, French cemetery at Rome, and also remarks about cost of living for staff in Italy.
Mentions Vice-Chairman thanked Admiral Dunbar-Nasmith and then mentioned the visit that Mr Beasley had made to Australian cemeteries in France, accompanied by the Australian Minister 'in Paris, which had been reported at the last Meeting. Mr Beasley had expressed the hope that priority would be given to the restoration of the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
Report of the 330th Meeting of the Finance Committee
Adoption of report of the Finance Committee, referring to:
Item 5, which related to the report of the Secretary-General, Canadian Agency, about the expenditure of further sums for erecting headstones.
Item 14, which concerned the supply of Crosses of Sacrifice and Stones of Remembrance.
Item 15 regarded the supply of models and castings for use with Hodgkinson stone-carving machines.
Item 17 concerned Memorials to the Missing of the Royal Navy in the 1939-1945 War, referring to Mr Maufe’s designs and the open competition for the designs of memorials at Lee-on-Solent, Lowestoft, and Liverpool.
Also mentions the reason why the construction of Tobruk Cemetery had been deferred was the cost of the, proposals and the doubtful stability of the contractor.
Chatham Naval Memorial Extension
Discussion regarding Edward Maufe’s design for the 1939-1945 extension of the Chatham Naval Memorial, with comments about commemoration of the missing by Canada and Australia. Resolution that the design prepared by Mr Edward Maufe, A.R.A. for the extension of the Naval Memorial to the Missing, at Chatham, be approved, it being understood that further consideration will be given to the details of the naval groups and the bronze sentinel figures.
Remembrance Day
Mentions the main item had already been mentioned and, among other matters, contained the two broadcast talks of the Vice-Chairman in full.
Inscriptions On The Cross of Sacrifice
Discussion regarding proposed inscriptions for Crosses of Sacrifice erected for the Second World War.
Report Of The Committee On Personal Inscriptions Upon Headstones
Discussion regarding the Committee’s report with regards to personal inscriptions and the cost of adding these to headstones.
Anglo-French And Anglo-Belgian Mixed Committees
Appointment of Mr G.W.A. Kayser, firstly as Deputy Secretary-General of the Anglo-French Mixed Committee, and also, as Secretary-General of the Anglo-Belgian Mixed Committee.
Royal Air Force Regional Cemeteries
Refers to pamphlet prepared by Colonel Murphy with regard to cemeteries in the United Kingdom with brief overview of the establishment of R.A.F. regional cemeteries and burials of Dominion airmen.
New Italian War Graves Agreement
Update on the draft agreement and that copies of the draft would be circulated as soon as possible after the Meeting.
Approval In Principle Of Sketch Design For: Brookwood Military and R.A.F. Cemeteries, Syracuse British Cemetery, Catania British Cemetery, And Benghazi Military Cemetery
Discussion and resolution covering following sketch designs prepared by:
Mr Edward Maufe, A.R.A. for Brookwood Military and Royal Air Force Cemeteries;
Mr Louis de Soissons, O.B.E., A.R.A. for Syracuse and Catania British Cemeteries, Sicily;
Mr Hubert Worthington, O.B.E., A.R.A. for Benghazi Military Cemetery, Libya.
Also that these designs be referred to the Finance Committee to consider and report on the cost of construction.
Redemption Of Local Loans 3% Stock
Resolution that the Seal of the Commission be affixed to and the Proper Officer sign the forms of application for the re-investment or the redemption monies from their holding of Local Loans 3% Stock (1,771.18. 4 Registered and £7.087. 8. 5. Inscribed) in a corresponding amount of 2 ½ % Treasury Stock 1975 or after.
Question from General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson about the Commission’s responsibility for maintaining Battle Exploit Memorials, with response from the Vice-Chairman and Mr Sillar explaining the basis of repayment secured by Endowment Funds.
47th Division Memorials, High Wood and Martinpuich
Resolution that authority be and hereby is given for the Seal of the Commission to be affixed to and the Proper Officer to sign the Documents of Transfer relating to the transfer to the Commission of £40. O. 3. 3 per cent Defence Bonds as an additional provision for the maintenance of the 47th Division Memorials at High Wood and Martinpuich.
Update on the question of wages and allowances of Commission staff in France, where the Commission were awaiting to hear the decision of the Industrial Court.
Mentions the next Meeting would be held at 11 o'clock on Thursday 19th December 1946.
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)
J.P. Sigvaldason, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
V.C. Duffy, Esq., M.V.O. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
E.A. Broadbridge, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
I.T. Meyer, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Colonel W.F. Rendell, C.B.E. (Representing the Government of Newfoundland)
Sir Samuel Runganadhan (High Commissioner for India)
G.F. Seel, Esq., C.M,G. (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.
Colonel Sir John Shute, C,M.G. D.S.O., J.P.
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)
G. Savage, Esq. (Colonial Office)
Colonel C.M. Clode, M.C. (Representing the 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. (Assistant Secretary, Records)
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Assistant Secretary. Finance)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Bateman, M.lnst., C.E. (Director of Works)
Brigadier J.K. McNair, C.B.E.
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Murphy, M.B.E. (Area Superintendent, United Kingdom)
Captain H.P.R. Foster (Legal Assistant)
Major F. Tyrrell, M.B.E.
W.J. Chalmers, Esq.
P.R. Trevelyan-Thomson, Esq. |