| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence
The Secretary of State for the Colonies (neither Mr Seel nor Mr Cade being able to attend)
Lord Wigram
Mr Harold Neal
General Sir James Steele
Sir William Halcrow
Minutes of the 314th Commission meeting
Statement referring to the unfortunate situation in certain cemeteries in the United Kingdom in which the headstones were being erected on United Kingdom and other Dominion graves but not yet on Australian or New Zealand graves.
The President of the Commission
Mention that the President H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester had asked the Chairman about his recent visit to Egypt and Sicily.
Visit of H.R.H. the Princess Margaret to Salerno (Beach Head) Cemetery
Mentions Princess Margaret visited the cemetery to lay a floral tribute on the grave of Captain M.J. Carroll of the Royal Artillery, who was one of three brothers killed during the Second World War.
Birthday Honours
M.B.E. awarded to C.R. Cameron, Finance and Administrative Officer in Eastern District, and H.F.S. Wilson, Superintendent of the Headstones Branch at Wooburn Green; British Empire Medal awarded to G. Tanner, Travelling Superintendent Gardener, Arras Area.
Major-General Sir Fabian Ware
Mention of press cuttings referring to Major General Sir Fabian Ware collected in the Commission’s Newspaper Cuttings Book and mention of Mr Amery’s tribute to Sir Fabian in the Journal of the Royal Empire Society and the Secretary’s tribute in the Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects, as well as a tribute by the Principal Assistant Secretary F.C. Sillar in “The Nineteenth Century And After”.
Colonel H.C. Osborne
Letter of thanks received from Colonel Ewart Osborne, brother of the late Colonel H.C. Osborne in response to the letter sent by the Chairman on the Commission’s behalf.
Membership of the Commission
Suggestion that vacant position left by the death of Sir Fabian Ware be filled by Sir Patrick Spens, who had been a Member from 1931 to 1943.
American Memorial Day at Brookwood
Recollection of American Memorial Day service held at Brookwood Military Cemetery on 29 May 1949.
Local interest in maintaining war cemeteries in the Netherlands
Discussion regarding local interest in the maintenance of war cemeteries in the Netherlands. Mention that General Urquhart, who had commended the First Airborne Division at the landing at Arnhem, had written in support of the wishes of the local Committee and that the Adjutant-General had suggested that an interview should be arranged between himself, General Urquhart and the Principal Assistant Secretary, at which the Commission's attitude could be explained.
Ceremony at Castiglione South African Cemetery, Italy
Reading of letter from General Theron, South African Minister in Rome, regarding a ceremony held at Castiglione South African Cemetery on 26 April 1949.
Fifth anniversary commemorations of the liberation of Ranville
Mention that General Montgomery had attended the commemoration of fifth anniversary of the liberation of Ranville at a ceremony in the churchyard and later laid wreaths at Ranville War Cemetery.
Memorials to the Missing
Proposed 1939-1945 memorials to the missing to be constructed at Bayeux, Groesbeek (Nijmegen) and Cassino.
Designs submitted by the Anzac Agency for the two cemeteries at Bourail (drawn by C.P. Vize) and Port Moresby (Bomana) (drawn by A.G. Robertson)
Transfer of graves from Sandakan to Labuan
Mention of provision of a Government of North Borneo ship to assist with the transfer of remains from Sandakan Cemetery to Labuan Cemetery, North Borneo.
Article in the May 1949 issue of “The Legionary” (the Canadian Legion’s journal) about the Commission’s 29th Annual Report.
Report of the 360th meeting of the Finance Committee
Item 5 gave evidence of progress in the construction of headstone foundations in El Alamein Cemetery.
Item 6 dealt with the permanent construction of plots in civil cemeteries in Australia.
Item 8 indicated progress in the construction of Crosses of Sacrifice for cemeteries in Norway.
Item 9 dealt with expenditure on Crosses of Sacrifice in Anzac Agency.
Item 13 recorded promotions in the staff of the North West European and South-East Asia Districts.
Item 15 concerned provision for the education of children of United Kingdom based staff overseas.
Item 16 referred to the enquiry with the assistance of the Treasury into the question of temporary currency allowances and local allowances in French and North West European Districts.
Graves containing the intermingled remains of British Commonwealth and United States war dead
Refers to the paper presented, in which there were mentioned two mass graves in Japan containing ashes, in one of which American casualties predominated. In this there were nineteen British Commonwealth Dead and in the other, two hundred and sixty. Apart from the grave in which General Wingate was buried, there were only three or four others known to the Commission. Discussion involves the policy of the Commission and suggestions for informing the next-of-kin.
Anzac Agency
Mentions establishment of a new Committee of General Purposes of Anzac Agency.
Memorials to the Missing 1939-1945 – Air Forces
Discussion regarding proposed memorials to the missing of the air forces killed during the Second World War, including Malta, El Alamein and Singapore.
Resolution lists the following locations:
United Kingdom
Malta
El Alamein Military Cemetery
Singapore (Kranji) Military Cemetery
Canada
Adelaide River War Cemetery
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery
Lae War Cemetery
Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery
Ambon War Cemetery
Labuan War Cemetery
Sydney War Cemetery
Bourail (New Zealand) War Cemetery
New Caledonia
Proposed memorial to the Fleet Air Arm at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire
Discusses selection of competition designs by Edward Maufe for the design of the Fleet Air Arm memorial at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
Examination of sketch designs by Philip D. Hepworth, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for North-West Europe, for Sittard (Ophoven) British Cemetery; Mierlo British Cemetery; Geel British Cemetery; and Kasterlee British Cemetery.
Crompton Cemetery, Lancashire
Resolution for the assignment of the exclusive burial rights in Grave No.6367 in Crompton Cemetery, Lancashire, to Mrs Margaret Solan.
Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery, Devon
Resolution for Counterpart Deed of Grant of exclusive rights of burial in 1939/45 War Graves in Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery.
Items of interest
Mentions Commission took note of the paper submitted.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 21 July 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)
I.T. Meyer, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
W.B. England, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Brigadier M. Hayaud Din, M.B.E., M.C. (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
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.
The Right Hon. Sir Richard Hopkins, G.C.B.
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:
Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
SECRETARY:
F. Higginson, Esq., C.M.G. (Secretary)
Also in attendance:
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
W.J. Chalmers, Esq. (Assistant Secretary)
R.W. Bateman (Director of Works)
O.D. Holt, Esq. (Principal, Secretarial Branch)
H.P.R. Foster, Esq., O.B.E. (Legal Assistant)
W.K.K. Kinnear (Chief Records Officer)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Murphy, O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |