| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence
Sir Richard Hopkins and Sir William Halcrow
Visit of Mrs Beckwith-Smith, widow of General Beckwith-Smith (who commanded Eighteenth Division), to sites in the Far East, accompanied by Colonel Bailey, the Commission’s Area Superintendent for Far East Area. Also mentions, among other sites, Mrs Beckwith-Smith visited Saiwan Bay Military Cemetery where her husband is buried.
Visit by the Chairman the Rt. Hon. Emanuel Shinwell, M.P., to Commission sites in France and Italy Includes comments from the Chairman about his concerns over graves in communal cemeteries, the speed of headstone production, the designs for new Commission cemeteries, and dissatisfaction voiced by members of the Commission’s staff over emoluments received. Also outlines the Commission’s policy on repatriation with regards to the large number of isolated graves.
Photographs of Keren War Cemetery, Bispebjerg Cemetery and Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery
Mention that photographs were passed around at the Meeting.
Visit by Dr Evatt, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
Mention of visit on 28 November 1948 by Dr Evatt to the Australian National Memorial and the French War Memorial at Villers Bretonneux, and the French. War Memorial at Fouilloy.
Report of the 354th Finance Committee Meeting – Annual estimates for 1949-1950
Refers to annual estimates of expenditures.
Successor to Sir Frederic Kenyon
Resolution for the appointment of Edward Maufe as successor to Sir Frederic Kenyon as the Commission’s Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser.
Personal inscription submitted by Mrs Boore
Discussion regarding personal inscription submitted by Mrs Boore: ‘THIS IS MY SON, MY ONLY SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED’. The Commission had responded suggesting an alternative be selected to avoid causing offence to other relatives.
Malta Agency
Resolution for the delegation of powers to the Commission’s Malta Agency in respect of 1939-1945 war graves.
Removal of IWGC headstones from common graves in the United Kingdom
Discussion about regrouping of 1914-1918 Commission headstones from common graves in cemeteries in the United Kingdom
Sketch designs – Anzac Agency
Examination of sketch designs submitted by the Commission’s Anzac Agency for Geraldton Cemetery, Western Australia, and Atherton War Cemetery, Queensland.
Construction of Service Plot and Cross of Sacrifice – Tunbridge Wells Cemetery, Kent, United Kingdom
Resolution for agreement between the Commission and the Tunbridge Wells Corporation regarding the layout, treatment and maintenance of the Service Plot and erection of a "Cross of Sacrifice" in Tunbridge Wells Cemetery, Kent.
Superannuation Scheme – Assignment of policies
Assignment of policies under superannuation scheme to Mr Joseph John Charles Evans, Gardener-Caretaker.
Kerr Memorial - Transfer of Treasure Stock
Resolution for the transfer of Treasury stock for the maintenance of the private grave and memorial of Lieutenant D.A. Kerr.
Mareth Guards Cemetery, Tunisia
Resolution for the transfer of 79 graves from Mareth Guards Cemetery to Sfax War Cemetery due to remote situation and lack of sufficient water supply.
Sandakan War Cemetery, British North Borneo
Resolution for the removal of graves from Sandakan War Cemetery to Labuan War Cemetery as proposed at the 309th Commission meeting.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 20 January 1949 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
The Rt. Hon. Emanuel Shinwell, M.P., Secretary of State for War (Chairman)
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B. (Vice-Chairman)
J.P. Sigvaldason, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
F.T. Sprange, Esq., O.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
The Rt. Hon. W.J. Jordan (High Commissioner for New Zealand)
I.T. Meyer, 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)
R.C. Cade, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
P.H. Cooper, Esq. (Representing the Minister of Works)
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
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.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
Also in attendance:
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederic Kenyon, G.B.E., K.C.B. (Artistic Adviser)
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)
Major F. Tyrrell, M.B.E. (Chief Enquiries Officer)
P.R. Trevelyan-Thomson, Esq.
A.S. Laing, Esq. |