| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Welcome to Edward Maufe at his first attendance at a Commission meeting as the Commission’s Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser.
Request by Sir Herbert Ellissen for the amendment to his statement about the Commission’s policy in the minutes for the 310th Commission meeting.
Sandakan War Cemetery, British North Borneo
Mention of discussion about the removal of graves from Sandakan Cemetery to Labuan War Cemetery as recommended by the Committee formed under the resolution of the 310th meeting.
Death of Mr D.S. MacColl
Mention of death of Mr MacColl, distinguished art critic, author and painter, who had been a member of the Commission’s Headstone Committee in February 1918 and later in November 1939 to decide the design of the Commission’s headstone.
Death of Lieutenant-Colonel S.J. Cole C.M.G., O.B.E.
Mention of death of Lieutenant-Colonel Cole, who had represented the Secretary of State for the Colonies at Commission Meetings from July 1942 to June 1946.
New Year Honours
J. Hubert Worthington, Principal Architect for North Africa, had received a Knighthood.
Mr H.P.R. Foster, Legal Assistant, awarded the O.B.E.
Major W.K.K. Kinnear, Chief Records Officer, awarded the M.B.E.
F. Martin, a Head-Gardener in the French District, who received the British Empire Medal.
Speaker of the House of Commons’s visit to Italy, including Rome and Anzio war cemeteries
Brief description of visit given by Brigadier Collingwood, including interference of bad weather and the laying of a wreath by Colonel Clifton-Brown at Anzio (Beach Head) War Cemetery.
Ceremony at Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia
Mention of photographs received from Mr Galea showing recent ceremony at Sfax War Cemetery.
Mareth Guards Cemetery, Tunisia
Estimate of cost for the removal of war graves from Mareth Guards Cemetery into Sfax War Cemetery given at under £500.
Jerusalem War Cemetery
Mention of a letter received by the Chief Administrative Officer of Eastern District from the British Consul in Palestine advising that Jerusalem War Cemetery was heavily mined and it had been impracticable for gardeners to access to carry out their work.
Unveiling of Cross of Sacrifice at Springvale War Cemetery, Australia
Report regarding ceremony for the unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice at Springvale War Cemetery on 5 December 1948 by His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, Major-General Sir Winston Dugan.
Repatriation of French war dead
Mention of reference to repatriation of French war dead in the Quarterly Report for the United Kingdom District. Colonel Murphy reported that the French Ambassador and the Consul-General,
M. Gauthier had expressed their appreciation of the way in which the Commission had marked and maintained the graves in the UK and of the assistance given in connection with the work of exhumation.
Report of the 355th meeting of the Finance Committee
Item 16 said that the Committee had agreed that the small grants made to present and former members of the staff evacuated from France and Belgium in 1940 to enable them to settle in this country and buy certain necessities of life should be regarded as ex gratia payments.
Item 19 said the Committee had authorised the placing of a contract for the construction of Cairo (Heliopolis) Military Cemetery, one of the most important cemeteries, both from its size and situation, in the Eastern District.
Item 20 was a proposal to place a contract for the production in the United Kingdom of 140,000 headstones in Portland stone by machinery.
Item 21 concerned the Joint Negotiating Committee and was followed by a report from Mr Neal on his recent visit to French district, including comments about deteriorating brickwork at Mill Road Cemetery; a similar issue reported at Hermies Hill British Cemetery.
Memorials to the Missing 1939-1945 War – Land Forces
Approval for the siting of memorials to the missing for the Land Forces of the 1939-1945 war at Saiwan Bay Military Cemetery and Singapore (Kranji) Military Cemetery.
Graves in Spain
Decision to concentrate 1939-1945 war graves in Spain into one cemetery across five consular districts.
Examination of sketch designs for cemetery construction
Examination of sketch designs by Philip D. Hepworth, Principal Architect for North-Western Europe, for Bayeux War Cemetery and Hautot-sur-Mer (Dieppe) Canadian Cemetery. Includes comments about proposed pool surrounding the Cross of Sacrifice in Bayeux War Cemetery.
25th Quarterly Report on the maintenance of war graves (up to 31 December 1948)
Includes comments from the Chairman about use of granite stone in cemeteries in Scotland, which he felt was expensive and that Portland stone would be more distinctive.
Proposed Memorials to the Missing of the Royal Naval Ancillary Services at Lee-on-Solent and Lowestoft - Resolution authorising for the Seal of the Commission to be affixed to and the Proper Officer to sign a copy of the "Conditions and Instructions to Competitors" as issued in each of these competitions.
Hatfield Park War Cemetery, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Resolution for authority granted to the Proper Officer of the Commission to sign an agreement between the Marquess of Salisbury, K.G., The Gascoyne Cecil Estates Company and the Commission regarding the construction by the Commission of Hatfield Park War Cemetery and its future maintenance.
Margate Cemetery, Kent, United Kingdom
Resolution for authority granted to the Proper Officer to sign the Counterpart Deed of Grant of exclusive rights of burial by the Corporation of Margate to the Commission in the Service Plot in Margate Cemetery.
Lowestoft Cemetery, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Resolution for authority for the Seal of the Commission be affixed to and the Proper Officer sign the Counterpart Deed of Grant of exclusive rights of burial in ten 1939-1945 War Graves in Lowestoft Cemetery.
Items of interest
Report from Brigadier S. Collingwood, C.B.E., M.C. (Chief Administrative Officer, Southern European District) regarding progress of work in his district.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 17 February 1949 for 11:00am.
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)
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)
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)
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.
Harold Neal, Esq., M.P.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
ADVISERS:
Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A., F.R.I.B.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
Also in attendance:
Brigadier F. Higginson, C.M.G. (Secretary)
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
W.J. Chalmers, Esq. (Assistant Secretary)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Bateman (Director of Works)
Brigadier J.K. McNair, C.B.E. (Foreign Relations Officer)
H.P.R. Foster, Esq., O.B.E. (Legal Assistant)
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.
Brigadier S. Collingwood, C.B.E., M.C. (Chief Administrative Officer, Southern European District)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Murphy, O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |