| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence:
Lord Wigram
Sir Richard Hopkins
Sir William Halcrow
Mention that Mr J.D. McAteer was to succeed Mr Duffy as representative of the High Commissioner for Australia at Commission meetings with comments about the Australian divisional memorials and Villers Bretonneux.
Unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice – Feltwell (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Norfolk
Report of the unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice by the High Commissioner of New Zealand the Rt. Hon. W.J. Jordan at the Service Plot in Feltwell (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Norfolk on 7 October 1949. Also mentions a copy of The Illustrated London News, containing a picture of the ceremony, was handed round.
Presentation of flags for Brookwood
Mention of recent presentation of flags of India and Pakistan for use at Brookwood Military Cemetery.
Visit of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore
Mentions his visit to 25 Service plots in Scotland and Northern Ireland, 9 of which were in Ulster. Also includes his comments about Turnberry, Dunfermline and Queensferry cemeteries.
Lieutenant-Commander D. A. Dunbar-Nasmith’s visit to Naples Military Cemetery, Italy
Comment from the Chairman that his elder son had visited Naples Military Cemetery where two-thirds of headstones were in place and the gardeners were hard at work, despite the rain.
Remembrance Day 1949
Brief overview of arrangements scheduled, including service at Westminster Abbey and the annual Service of Remembrance at the Memorial to the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets on Tower Hill, as well as a radio broadcast on the BBC Home and Overseas Services by the Chairman.
Visit of the Secretary-General, Anzac Agency to Japan and Java
Mention Brigadier Brown had visited Japan for discussions at the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, concerning the Yokohama British Commonwealth War Cemetery.
Principal Assistant Secretary’s visit to Paris
Refers to visit by F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E., Principal Assistant Secretary, to Paris in October 1949 to discuss the draft text of the supposed War Graves Agreement with France.
Unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice at Beck Row (St. John’s) Churchyard, Suffolk
Refers to Unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice at Beck Row (St. John’s) Churchyard, Suffolk, by Air Commodore E.G. Knox Knight, Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters, Royal Australian Air Force, on 4 October 1949.
Death of Mr E.T.E. Nash
Mentions death of Mr Nash, one of the Commission’s architects based at the London Office; refers to the report on his tour of Norway in 1948 and that the sketch lay-outs which he had prepared, had formed the basis of the Commission's permanent constructional work in Norway.
Runnymede Air Forces Memorial
Resolution regarding gift of land for the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial from Sir Eugen and Lady Effie Millington-Drake, and authorisation of terms of agreement with Edward Maufe, R.A., Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser.
Alteration of rates of exchange
Brief discussion about the effect of the recent alteration of exchange rates on the Commission’s work.
Loss of funds at Ypres
Refers to a matter when cash had been checked at Ypres on 22 September a shortage of 30,632 Belgian francs had been disclosed in funds for which the Area Superintendent was responsible. After consultation with the Commission's Belgian lawyer, the matter was reported to the police. Also mentions dismissal of the Area Superintendent and resignation of his deputy.
Report of the 363rd Finance Committee meeting
Item 5 concerned transport of headstones from the United Kingdom to Norway.
Item 6 dealt with the cost of the granite headstones themselves.
Item 7 concerned the Cross of Sacrifice, which was being erected at Tromso, the site of the northernmost cemetery of the 1939-1945 War.
Item 13 dealt with the supply of portable hutting for the Western Mediterranean District.
Item 17 concerned the temporary currency and local allowances in France and Belgium.
Item 19 concerned the retirement of Mr P.E. Vesper.
Item 20 (a) concerned expenditure for alterations at Wooburn House.
Definition of war graves – Auxiliary Forces of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Resolution that War Grave treatment be extended to Officers and other ranks of the Auxiliary Forces of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
Examination of sketch design by Louis de Soissons, O.B.E., A.R.A., F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for Italy and Greece, for Meldola British Cemetery, Italy, as well as sketch design by Colin St. Clair Oakes, M.B.E., A.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for India, Pakistan and South-East Asia, for Imphal Muslim Military Cemetery. Includes discussion regarding suggestion of a stone path to the design of Meldola and suggested alterations to lower the cost for Imphal.
28th Quarterly Report for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom – deals chiefly with the completion of work to repatriate Belgian war dead buried in the United Kingdom.
Skerton Cemetery, Lancashire
Deed of Grant in duplicate of burial rights in war graves of the 1939-1945 in Skerton Cemetery, Lancaster.
14th Light Division Memorial, Railway Wood, Ypres
Resolution for the purchase of stock for the maintenance of the 14th Light Division Memorial, Railway Wood, Ypres.
Items of interest
Visit to Minturno War Cemetery in August 1949 by the Minister of Health
Laying of a wreath by the First Lord of Admiralty Viscount Hall at Anzio (Beach Head) Cemetery
Visit to Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery by His Excellency the Governor-General of Australia, the Right Honourable W.J. McKell, K.C
Mention by Sir Arthur Longmore about the Meiktila Military Cemetery being overrun by insurgents.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 17 November 1949 at 10:30am to allow for the screening of a film of the Commission’s work at the end.
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)
Brigadier M. Hayaud Din, M.B.E., M.C. (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
D.K. Malone, Esq. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
A.B. Moore, 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.
General Sir James S. Steele, K.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.
Sir Patrick Spens, K.B.E., K.C.
ADVISERS:
Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
SECRETARY:
F. Higginson, Esq., C.M.G. (Secretary)
Also in attendance:
J.D. McAteer, Esq. (Acting Official Secretary, Office of the High Commissioner for Australia)
Major-General W.G. Stevens, C.B., C.B.E. (Official Secretary, New Zealand Government Offices)
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)
T.F.G. Carless, Esq. (Senior Records Officer (Historical))
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)
Major J.H. Roberts, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. (Chief Administrative Officer, North-West European District)
R.W. Murphy, O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |