| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence
The High Commissioner for Canada (Mr. Sigvaldason being unable to be present)
The High Commissioner for South Africa (Mr. Meyer being prevented from attending)
General Sir James Steele
Sir William Halcrow
Death of Sir Fabian Ware
Refers to message from Lady Ware in response to messages of sympathy sent by the Commission following the death of her husband Sir Fabian Ware.
Sir Patrick Spens
Resolution for the appointment of Sir Patrick Spens as a Member of the Commission.
Ceremony at Stratford-upon-Avon Cemetery, Warwickshire
Refers to ceremony held on 19 June 1949 for the unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice by the Mayor.
Local interest in the maintenance of war cemeteries in Holland
Mentions the Chairman’s letter to the Times as well as letters sent by the Reverend R.O. Tasker, Honorary Chaplain to the Forces, to the Daily Telegraph and the Church Times, but had not mentioned the Commission’s role in maintaining war cemeteries in the Netherlands.
Canada Day Service at Hastings Borough Cemetery
Mentions attendance by Sir Herbert Ellissen at Canada (Dominion) Day service at Hastings Borough Cemetery on 3 July 1949.
Graves in Luxembourg
Comments explaining the Commission’s acquisition in perpetuity of all war graves in Luxembourg
Dedication of Cross of Sacrifice at Margate Cemetery, Kent
Mention of dedication of Cross of Sacrifice service at Margate Cemetery, Kent, on 12 June 1949. The Cross was dedicated by the Reverend L. Curtis Wright, Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force. The Mayor of Margate, the Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force Station, Manston, and over a thousand people attended. The Commission were represented at this ceremony.
Palestine - Report from Colonel Griffin, Chief Administrative Officer for Eastern District
Mentions Colonel Griffin had received a letter from the British Minister in Tel Aviv about the overgrown condition of Ramleh War Cemetery.
Transfer of graves from Sandakan to Labuan
Mentions completion of transfer of graves from Sandakan to Labuan on 17 June with a memorial service held on 25 June 1949.
Report of the Secretary’s visit to France
Mentions Staff Garden Party and Sports Meeting in Arras on 14 July 1949; restoration work at Villers-Bretonneux; consultation with Austin Blomfield about repairs at Thiepval Memorial; and construction progress at Hautot-sur-Mer Cemetery, Dieppe.
War graves in Java and Sumatra
Question from Sir Arthur Longmore about whether the Commission had any information about the war graves in Java and Sumatra.
Report of the 361st Finance Committee meeting
Item 6 covered a large contract for headstones in the United Kingdom.
Item 19 dealt with the transfer of certain members of the Commission's staff in the Anzac Agency to the Permanent Maintenance Staff.
Item 21 concerned the internal decoration and repairs and the external cleaning of the Commission's premises at 32 Grosvenor Gardens.
Appointment of Trustee of the Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund
Appointment of Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B. as a Trustee of the Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund.
Tablet for Westminster Abbey
Proposal of production of a new memorial tablet for Westminster Abbey; suggested alternatively that the wording on the existing tablet changed to include the Second World War.
Memorials to the Missing of the 1939-1945 War in Pacific Area
Resolution for the approval of memorials to the missing to be erected at: Adelaide River War Cemetery; Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery; Lae War Cemetery; Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery; Ambon War Cemetery; Labuan War Cemetery; Bourail (New Zealand) War Cemetery; Sydney War Cemetery.
Examination of sketch designs for cemetery construction, including for the following cemeteries: resolutions omitting the iron overthrow at Valkenswaard; advancing the Stone of Remembrance, and the reduction of the height of the wall behind at Taiping; and the omission of the gardener's building at Agira. Also includes approval of sketch designs by Philip D. Hepworth, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for North-West Europe, for Valkenswaard British Cemetery and Nederweert British Cemetery; design by Colin St. Clair Oakes, M.B.E., A.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for India, Pakistan and South-East Asia, for Taiping Military Cemetery; design by Louis de Soissons, O.B.E., A.R.A., F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for Italy and Greece, for Agira Canadian Cemetery.
Examination of sketch design submitted by the Commission’s Anzac Agency for Lae War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.
Headstones in Glasgow Cemeteries
Refers to concerns over neglected condition of headstones in Glasgow (Sighthill) Cemetery and Glasgow Southern Necropolis.
Stratford-upon-Avon Cemetery, Warwickshire
Resolution for Deed of Grant of burial rights in the Service Plot in Stratford-upon-Avon Cemetery, Warwickshire.
Penzance (Paul) Cemetery, Cornwall
Resolution for Deed of Grant of burial rights in war graves of the 1939/45 War in Penzance (Paul) Cemetery, Cornwall.
Amersham Cemetery, Buckinghamshire
Resolution for Deed of Grant of exclusive rights of burial in war graves in Amersham Cemetery, Buckinghamshire.
Superannuation scheme – assignment of policies to Mr Andrew Rutherford Turnbull.
Memorial to Lieutenant V. Braithwaite, Serre, France
Resolution for assignment of Treasury Stock to provide income for the maintenance of the Memorial to Lieutenant V. Braithwaite at Serre, France.
Office premises for Anzac Agency
Resolution for purchase of office premises for Anzac Agency.
Items of interest
Mention the Commission took note of the paper submitted.
Representative of the Minister of Works
Resolution for the succession of Mr A.B. Moore as representative of the Minister of Works at future Commission meetings.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 15th September 1949 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B. (Vice-Chairman in the Chair)
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)
W.B. England, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
J.W. Balding, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
G.F. Seel, Esq., C.M.G. (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.
The Right Hon. Sir Richard Hopkins, G.C.B.
Harold Neal, Esq., M.P.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
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)
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)
F. Tyrrell, Esq., M.B.E. (Chief Enquiries Officer)
M.D. Fyfe, Esq. (Assistant to Principal, Secretarial Branch)
Lieut.-Colonel R.W. Murphy, O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |