Record

Unique IDCWGC/2/2/1/299
File NumberWG 1831/241
TitleCOMMISSION MEETING NO.299 - December 1947
Multimedia

7d\2a0f6b-e62e-4966-9d45-54c97898f5d8.pdf

DescriptionMinutes of the 299th Meeting of the Commission
Content NoteTopics covered:

Mention the meeting opened in private session with the following present in addition to members of the Commission:
Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B., T.D., D.Litt. (Artistic Adviser)
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Assistant Secretary Finance)
E.J. King, Esq., M.C.

Three matters were raised during this private session:
1) The salary of Brigadier Higginson
2) Present vacancy and proposal for the appointment of Sir Herbert Ellissen
3) Vice-Chairmanship upon retirement of Sir Fabian Ware on 17 June 1948.

Mentions that Sir William Halcrow and members of staff then joined the Meeting.
Death of the Rt. Hon. Earl Baldwin of Bewdley K.G.
Announcement of the death of Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. Lord Baldwin became a Commiisioner on the death of his cousin, Mr Rudyard Kipling in 1936, from then until he retired through ill-health in 1945.

Minutes of 296th Meeting of the Commission
Attention drawn to clerical error in the minutes, namely one word in the seventh line of Mr Sillar’s statement on page 10, with approval of amendment of “rejecting” with “agreeing”.

High Commissioner for South Africa
Announcement of retirement of Mr Heaton Nicholls, High Commissioner for South Africa.

Visit of the Prime Minister of Canada to North-West Europe
Refers to recent visit by Mr. Mackenzie King who had laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Brussels at the Remembrance Day Ceremony there on 11 November. He had also attended a ceremony, held in his honour on 12 November, at Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery.
Remembrance Day – Norway and Palestine
Mentions Remembrance Day ceremony held in Jerusalem War Cemetery on 9 November where a wreath was laid on the Stone of Remembrance by His Excellency the High Commissioner (General Sir Alan G. Cunningham, K.C.B.). Also mentions a Service at the English Church in Oslo, attended by King Haakon, and on the previous day, a ceremony had taken place in Oslo Western Cemetery.

Principal Architect in the United Kingdom
Refers to recent press coverage regarding Sir Edward Maufe being accorded the honour of Royal Academician.

South European District
Refers to report received from Principal Architect Sir Louis Soissons, with mention that progress had been made in the cemeteries at Rome (420 graves) Arezzo (1,268 graves) Florence Military Cemetery (1,528 graves) and Foiana della Chiana (252 graves). The headstone beams were in position and were ready to receive the headstones. Final grassing with English seed had also been completed.

Anzac Agency
Mentions that the October Report from the Anzac Agency stated that the War Cemeteries at Ambon with 1.636 graves and Macassar with 504 graves had been taken over by the Commission.

Items of Interest
Mentions a note of the more interesting of recent ceremonies and events together with a list of cemeteries handed over to the Commission since the last Meeting had been circulated.

Representation of the Government of Pakistan on the Commission
Discussion regarding Pakistan’s membership on the Commission with resolution that application be made for a Supplemental Charter providing for the representation of the Government of Pakistan.

Termination of the Second World War for the purposes of the Commission
Refers to recent announcement and resolution that 1 December 1947 was allocated as the date of the termination of the War of 1939-1945 for the purposes and powers of the Commission under their Charters.

Richmond Cemetery, Surrey
Resolution for a Deed of Grant from the Borough relating to grave space no. 9.8214 and a license from the Borough of Richmond to erect headstones over 24 grave spaces.

War Graves Agreements with the Netherlands, France and Belgium
Mentions the Commission had been asked to authorise the preparation and submission to the participating Governments of the texts of Agreements with the Netherlands, France and Belgium.

Examination of sketch designs for construction
Discussion referring to design of Perth War Cemetery, Australia and encroachment of Fayid War Cemetery and resolution approving sketch designs of Mr P.D. Hepworth, F.R.I.B.A. for Tessel (Fontenay-le-Pesnel) British Cemetery and Bazenville (Ryes) British Cemetery; Mr J. Hubert Worthington O.B.E., A.R.A. for Moascar Military Cemetery and Fayid Military Cemetery; and finally from the Anzac Agency for Perth War Cemetery.

It was agreed that owing to the Christmas holidays and the fact that the 1st January fell on a Thursday. the next Meeting o£ the Commission should be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday 22nd January 1948, i.e. the fourth Thursday in the month.

Attendees:
MEMBERS:
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)
C. Knowles, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
R. Petrie, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
W.B. England, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
E. Simcock, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
Colonel W.F. Rendell, C.B.E. (Representing the Government of Newfoundland)
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.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Hopkins, G.C.B.

There were also present:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B.
Sir William Halcrow, M. Inst. C.E. (Honorary Consulting Engineer)
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E. (Adviser on Post-War Organisation and Reconstruction)
Brigadier F. Higginson, C.M.G. (Secretary)
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Assistant Secretary, Finance)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Bateman (Director of Works)
Brigadier J.K. McNair, C.B.E.
E.J. King, Esq., M.C.
Major W.K.K. Kinnear (Acting Director of Records)
Major F. Tyrrell, M.B.E.
P.R. Trevelyan-Thomson, Esq.
Date26/11/1947 - 16/3/1948
Extent1 file
CollectionArchive
CategoryMeeting Notes
ArchNotePlease note that the downloadable document is the final version of the Committee Meeting minutes. Additional information, including the verbatim minutes and subsidiary reports, may be available in the physical file.
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