| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence
Sir Richard Hopkins and Edward Maufe.
Sir Fabian Ware
Mention that Sir Fabian Ware had returned from the South of France and following a trip to hospital he had returned home to Gloucester. He was then taken to a nursing home where he remained seriously ill.
Death of Colonel H.C. Osbourne, C.M.G., C.B.E. on 18 April 1949, with comments by Sir Herbert Ellissen.
29th Annual Report
Copies of the 29th Annual Report to His Majesty the King, to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, president of the Commission, and to all the Commonwealth Prime Ministers. Comments over disappointing turnout by the media at a conference at 32 Grosvenor Gardens. It had included representatives of The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Herald, Manchester Guardian, Birmingham Post and Yorkshire-Post, and of the Canadian Press and the Press Association. The only weekly paper which took part was Illustrated.
Secretary’s tour of East Africa
Mention of inspection tour of East Africa undertaken by Secretary Brigadier Higginson, accompanied by Mr H.J. Brown, Senior Deputy Director of Works, and Colonel Griffin, Chief Administrative Officer, Eastern District.
Visit by F. Sillar, Principal Assistant Secretary, and Colonel Russell Edmunds to Italy
Report of visit which was to determine whether progress was commensurate with expenditure and with the numbers of staff employed and to enable the Treasury representative to collect facts about the cost of living in Italy to be able to advise the Commission on foreign service allowances. Also notes progress of construction and erection of Commission headstones over graves in Italy.
Records building, Springvale War Cemetery, Australia
Two photographs passed around of a lectern installed in the Records Building in Springvale War Cemetery.
Minia War Memorial Cemetery
Mention of photograph of Minia War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt sent by the Manager for Upper Egypt of the National Insurance Company of Egypt.
Report of the 358th Finance Committee meeting
Item 6 (a) recommended a further supply of headstones under the terms of the present contract for the engraving of headstones by machinery ending the start of production under the large contract recently placed.
Item 6 (e) referred to a contract for the supply and erection of headstones in cemeteries in South Africa.
Item 15 referred to a proposal relating to salaries of staff across the various Districts.
Item 16 referred to the proposal for the creation of a fourth administrative area in France.
Item 17 concerned the appointment of Finance Officer Mr. M.J.W. Taylor, to replace the late Wing-Commander Greensill as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, North-West European District.
Item 18 recommended a temporary allowance to the Director of Works of the Anzac Agency while acting Assistant Secretary.
Item 19 (Construction in Norway) would be dealt with a later date.
Visit to Egypt and Sicily by Vice-Chairman
Refers to visit to cemeteries in Egypt and Sicily by Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B., Vice-Chairman. Includes comments on cemeteries in Sicily and the question of land acquisition in Egypt.
Report by Colin St. Clair Oakes, Principal Architect for India, Pakistan and South-East Asia on his recent visit to the area. Comments on condition of cemeteries in the area and the progress of the Commission’s work, recommendations of the type of headstone marker, and the appointment of a residential supervisory architect, in one or two of the large areas of the Far East.
Mention of the paper submitted regarding War Graves Agreements with Foreign Countries.
Discussion regarding local interest in the maintenance of Arnhem (Airborne Division) Cemetery in the Netherlands, with recommendation that local people should be allowed to place flowers on graves.
Examination of sketch designs for cemeteries to be constructed in Norway including: Tromso New Civil Cemetery; Haugesund (Rossebo) Churchyard; Kvam Churchyard; Oslo Western Civil Cemetery; Ballangen Civil Cemetery; Trondheim (Stavne) Churchyard; Narvik New Churchyard; Haakvik Churchyard; Harstad New Civil Cemetery; Sola Churchyard; Stavanger (Egenes) Churchyard; Lillehammer Northern Civil Cemetery.
Examination of sketch design by Philip D. Hepworth, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for North-West Europe, for Tilly-sur-Seulles British Cemetery, France.
Continuation of the Commission’s policy regarding the wearing of uniform by Commission manual and minor supervisory staff in the French, North-West European and Southern Districts.
26th Quarterly Report of the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom (to 31 March 1949)
Includes discussion regarding Dominion graves in the United Kingdom and question over the planting of bulbs in Harrogate Royal Air Force Cemetery.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 19 May 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)
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)
J.W. Balding, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
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.
General Sir James S. Steele, K.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.
ADVISERS:
Sir William Halcrow, Consulting Engineer
ACTING SECRETARY:
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
Also in attendance:
C. St. C. Oakes, Esq. (Principal Architect, India, Pakistan and South-East Asia)
W.J. Chalmers, Esq. (Assistant Secretary)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Bateman (Director of Works)
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) |