| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence
Lord Wigram, Mr Harold Neal, Mr Meyer and Sir William Halcrow.
Welcome to C.C. Burdge who would be representing the Minister for Works at future meetings.
Sandakan War Cemetery
Mention of a note received from Brigadier Brown, Secretary-General of Anzac Agency regarding approval of report and recommendations for work in connection with Sandakan War Cemetery.
The Speaker’s visit to Italy
Mention of an article published in the Yorkshire Observer praising the Commission’s work which was written by Mr W.T. Paling, M.P.
Use of granite for headstones in Scotland
Mention of two firms involved in the granite trade sending letters in protest to two Members of Parliament after the Commission considered the use of Portland stone in Scotland.
Memorials to Those With No Known Grave
Receipt of agreement of all participating governments regarding 1939-1945 memorials to the missing in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Death of the Rt. Hon. Sir Ronald Graham, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., the British Ambassador in Italy from 1921 to 1933.
Death of Wing Commander G.E.A. Greensill, O.B.E., Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in the North West European District.
Visit by the British Ambassador in Paris, His Excellency Sir Oliver Harvey, G.C.M.G., and Lady Harvey Mention that His Excellency and Lady Harvey were accompanied by Sir Ronald Fraser, K.B.E., C.M.G., the Minister for Commercial Affairs, to cemeteries in France and Belgium, including Faubourg d’Amiens, Arras Road, Roclincourt, Nine Elms Cemetery, Thelus, La Chaudiere, as well as Ploegsteert Memorial and Berks Cemetery Extension.
Australia Day Service – St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields
Mention by Brigadier Higginson that he had attended the annual Australia Day Service in St. Martins-in-the-Fields on 26 January 1949.
Commission’s General Fund for the Care and Maintenance of War Graves
Mention that a £50 donation to the Commission’s General Fund for the Care and Maintenance of War Graves was received from Mrs L.M. Harrison, whose son – a Battle of Britain pilot – was buried in Tangmere (St. Andrew) Churchyard, Sussex.
Film Lecture by Principal Assistant Secretary
Report of a film lecture about the Commission’s work delivered by Frank Sillar, Esq., C.B.E., Principal Assistant Secretary, to over 600 people at the White Rock Pavilion, Hastings, on 23 January 1949.
Ypres Settlement Committee.
Mention that a controlling interest in the Committee had now been taken over by the British Legion. Lieutenant-Colonel F.G. Poole, who had been Honorary Secretary and Treasurer to the Committee for the past twenty-five years, had relinquished his office, but would continue to act as one of the Administrators, who were responsible for the maintenance of the group of buildings, (which were not endowed), comprising St. George's Memorial Church, The Pilgrims' Hall, The Vicarage and The Eton Memorial School.
Daily Mirror article
Mention of criticism of the Commission by the Daily Mirror and subsequent apology received from the writer on the basis of wrong information.
Mareth Guards Cemetery
Summary of the removal of graves from Mareth Guards Cemetery to Sfax War Cemetery on 3 and 4 February.
Report of the 356th meeting of the Finance Committee
Item 7 concerned the cost of the removal of the graves in Mareth Cemetery to Sfax War Cemetery.
Item 9 concerned the acceptance of a tender for the supply and erection of six Crosses of Sacrifice and two War Stones (Stone of Remembrance) in Italy.
Item 18 concerned the appointment of officers to fill two important vacancies, one in the India and Pakistan District, and the other in the United Kingdom.
Item 20 dealt with the terms of remuneration to head gardeners and gardener/caretakers in the Southern European District.
29th Annual Report
Mention of a colour photograph of the Royal Air Force cemetery as a new feature in the 29th Annual Report followed by a discussion about the price of the Annual Report.
Headstones for unidentified graves
Discussion regarding inscription to be used for graves of identified service personnel of the 1939-1945 War.
Agreement between the United Kingdom and Czechoslovakia on the mutual upkeep of war graves
Report of progress of agreement and mentions that the Agreement permitted the erection of a Czechoslovak Memorial at Brookwood in accordance with designs supplied by the Czechoslovak Ministry of National Defence.
Examination of sketch design by Philip D. Hepworth, Principal Architect for North-Western Europe, for Cheux (St. Manvieu) British Cemetery.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 17 March 1949 at 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)
F.T. Sprange, Esq., O.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
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. 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)
C.C. Burdge, 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.
ADVISERS:
Edward Maufe, Esq., R.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)
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)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Murphy, O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |