| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence
Sir Fabian Ware, Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, Sir Richard Hopkins, Mr Meyer, Mr Seel, and Sir William Halcrow.
Supplemental Charter of the Commission, with comments from the Clerk of the Privy Council on behalf of the King.
Death of Sir John Chute C.M.G., D.S.O., T.D., J.P., D.L.
Announcement of the death of Sir John Chute, formerly a Member of the Commission and the Finance Committee since 1943.
Death of Major-General Sir John Kennedy G.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Announcement of the death of Major-General Sir John Kennedy, a former Member of the Commission from 1939 to 1946.
High Commissioner for New Zealand
Announcement of the extension of the office of Mr Jordan, the High Commissioner for New Zealand.
Request for a grave from Adegem Cemetery to Brookwood
Refers to plea made by Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Campbell of Montreal, Canada, for permission to have the body of their son, Lieut. W.A. Campbell, Canadian Army, buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium, transferred to Brookwood Military Cemetery where their elder son, Lieutenant R.F. Campbell, was buried.
Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery
Refers to re-erection of the Cross of Sacrifice at Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery following damage and dismantlement during the Second World War.
War cemeteries in Italy
Refers to article in the Times dated 28 August 1948 about the Commission’s cemeteries in Italy.
Anzac Agency
Note in Anzac Agency’s July 1948 report that the Yokohama War Cemetery had been handed over the Commission.
Commission’s Staff
Appointment of W.J. Chalmers as Assistant Secretary to the Commission and Oliver Holt, formerly Personal Assistant to Sir Fabian Ware between 1935 and 1946.
Situation in Palestine
Mention that Colonel Griffin, Chief Administrative Officer for Eastern District, was making arrangements to protect the Commission’s sites in Palestine in light of the political situation.
Visit of Horticultural Adviser to Central European District including cemeteries in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany - Mention Sir Edward's report would be circulated as part of the Agenda for the October Meeting of the Commission.
Ceremony in Dieppe
Mention of a ceremony that had been held in Hautot-sur-Mer (Dieppe) Canadian Cemetery, on 18 August 1948.
Memorial Tablet to late Commission Head Gardener Robert Armstrong
Mention that the tablet had been unveiled on 11 July in the presence of the Mayor of Valenciennes.
Ceremonies in Java
Mention that two ceremonies had been held in Sourabaya (Kemporig-Koenig) Cemetery on 16th August.
Report of the 351st Finance Committee Meeting
Item 13 dealt with appointment of Chief Administrative Officers, particularly Brigadier C.S. Vale.
Item 21 concerned the supply of bronze plaques in cemeteries in Anzac Agency area.
Item 22 concerned the construction of the cemeteries at Tobruk and Benghazi, Libya.
Item 23 concerned the proposal for a new contract to produce headstones by machine process.
Item 24 concerned the pay and allowances of manual and minor supervisory grades of staff in the Commission’s Central European District.
Marking of graves – South-West Pacific Area
Discussion and resolution for grave markers in South-West Pacific Area. Mentions the Resolution in three parts. The first accepting the plaque as designed by the Anzac Agency, the second agreeing the forms of pedestal and the third to decide what form of pedestal should be used in any other cemeteries where the bronze plaque was adopted.
Memorials to the Missing of the 1939-1945 War
Resolution for memorials to be constructed at:
Hargeisa Military Cemetery.
Port Sudan
Mombasa
Diego Suarez War Cemetery
El Alamein Military Cemetery
Medjez el Bab War Cemetery
A War Cemetery in Iraq
Beirut New British War Cemetery
A War Cemetery in Iran
Athens (Phaleron) Military Cemetery
Exhumation and repatriation of French war graves of the 1939-1945 War from the United Kingdom
Discussion about existing policy and wishes by next of kin for some bodies to remain in cemeteries in the UK.
Examination of sketch designs for cemetery construction
Refers to designs for Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery Extension, Tel el Kebir War Memorial Cemetery, and El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.
Plymouth Old Cemetery, Devon, United Kingdom
Resolution that the Common Seal of the Commission be affixed to and the Proper Officer sign, the two Counterpart Deeds of Grant by the Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse Cemetery Company relating to 17 grave spaces detailed therein.
Regional Offices – Salisbury
Resolution that authority be given to Major A.B., Melles, M.B.E., Inspector, South Western Region, to sign on the Commission's behalf the lease of premises belonging to the Phoenix Assurance Company Ltd. situated at 32 Market Square, Salisbury, for use as the Regional Office.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B. (Vice-Chairman in the Chair)
J.P. Sigvaldason, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
C. Knowles, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
W.B. England, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
E. Soper, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
Colonel W.F. Rendell, C.B.E. (Representing the Government of Newfoundland)
J.D. Fraser, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the Minister of Works)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O.
Colonel The Rt. Hon. The Lord Wigram, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.S.I.
Harold Neal, Esq., M.P.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
Also in attendance:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B.
Brigadier F. Higginson, C.M.G. (Secretary)
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Bateman (Director of Works)
Brigadier J.K. McNair, C.B.E. (Foreign Relations Officer)
O.D. Holt, Esq. (Principal, Secretarial Branch)
Major W.K.K. Kinnear (Chief Records Officer)
Captain H.P.R. Foster (Legal Assistant)
Major F. Tyrrell, M.B.E.
T.F.G. Carless, Esq.
P.R. Trevelyan-Thomson, Esq.
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Murphy, O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District)
Lieut.-Colonel G.H. Peek, O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, Western Mediterranean District) |