| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence:
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson
Sir Richard Hopkins
General Sir James Steele
Sir Patrick Spens.
Mr G.F. Seel
Mention that the K.C.M.G. awarded to Mr G.F. Seel, Esq. on being appointed Controller for Development and Welfare in the West Indies and British Co-Chairman of the Caribbean Commission.
War graves in civil and cantonment cemeteries in India and Pakistan
Mention that the matter of war graves in civil and cantonment graves in India and Pakistan was being considered by the special Inter-departmental Committee formed under the Chairmanship of the Director of Personal Services at the War Office.
Memorials to the Missing for the 1939-1945 War
Mention that there had been press coverage of the Commission’s announcement regarding memorials to the missing for the 1939-1945 War, including in the Ottawa Journal and the Cape Argus. The Chairman also delivered a talk which was broadcast by the BBC on 6 February 1950.
Vice-Chairman's visit to London cemeteries
Mention of Vice-Chairman’s visit to 18 cemeteries in London, with note of interest that within an eight-mile radius of Grosvenor Gardens there were some 10,600 graves of the First World War and some 5,000 (including cremations) of the Second World War.
Design for Salerno (Beach Head) Cemetery, Italy
Decision that additional piece of ground could be granted without interfering with the design for Salerno (Beach Head) Cemetery, Italy, by Louis de Soissons, Esq., A.R.A., Principal Architect for Italy and Greece.
Photographs – Stahnsdorf South-Western Cemetery, Germany
Mention of photographs received by the authorities in Berlin of Stahnsdorf South-Western Cemetery, Germany.
Visit by Mr F.T. Sprange to Australia
Mention of recent visit to Australia by F.T. Sprange with Brigadier Athol Brown, Secretary-General for Anzac Agency; comments about the entrance feature with wrought-iron gates at Springvale War Cemetery, Australia.
Report of the 367th Finance Committee meeting.
Item 7 authorised the construction of Santerno Valley Military Cemetery by direct labour and not, as usual, contract.
Item 13 indicated financial provision for carrying out the work of concentrating 1939-1945 war graves in India and Pakistan in accordance with the Commission’s recent decision.
Item 14 referred to the provision of a further sum of 7 million francs towards repairing war damage at the Australian National Memorial at Villers Bretonneux, France.
Item 15 concerned the appointment to the post of Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom in succession to Mr Murphy who was retiring. W.K.K. Kinnear, MBE, presently Chief Records Officer was recommended.
Item 16 gave authority to the Commission’s representatives to discuss revision of temporary currency and local allowances to staff in the French and North-West European Districts at the forthcoming Joint Negotiating Committee meeting.
Item 17 referred to the erection of headstones in civil and communal cemeteries in France.
30th Annual Report
Report on progress of the Commission’s 30th Annual Report; with suggestions from Sir Arthur Longmore for captions of photographs of cemeteries to indicate whether they are 1914-1918 or 1939-1945 War specific and a suggestion from Mr Seel to feature a photograph of a typical African cemetery in the next Annual Report.
Commission’s work in Burma
Agreement for a Committee under Sir Arthur Longmore be set up to oversee the Commission’s work in Burma.
War graves in Java and Sumatra
Transfer of responsibility for war graves in Java and Sumatra to the Commission’s Anzac Agency.
Examination of sketch design by Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A., Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser, for Chester (Blacon) Cemetery Air Forces Plot, Cheshire.
Examination of sketch design by Colin St. Clair Oakes, Esq., A.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for India, Pakistan and South-East Asia, for Gauhati Military Cemetery, India.
Runnymede Air Forces Memorial
Comments on preliminary designs presented for the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial by Edward Maufe, R.A.
Examination of sketch design submitted by the Commission’s Anzac Agency for Ambon War Cemetery and Memorial, Netherlands East Indies; with comments referring to Winston Churchill’s speech to the House of Commons in 1920 on the Commission’s work and the permanent nature of the Stone of Remembrance.
Memorial at Golders Green Crematorium, United Kingdom
Resolution for deed of grant to erect a memorial at Golders Green Crematorium, United Kingdom.
Items of interest
Remembrance Day Service at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery attended by His Excellency the British Ambassador and Lady Mack.
Remembrance Day service at Basra War Cemetery attended by the British Consul-General.
Official visit by the Administrator of New Guinea, His Excellency Colonel J .K. Murray and Mrs Murray on 28 November 1949.
Examination of sketch design for Dyce Old Churchyard, Aberdeenshire, with comments regarding necessity for the Cross of Sacrifice to be constructed in granite.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 16 March 1950 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B. (Vice-Chairman)
Frederic Hudd, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
J.D. McAteer, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
Major-General W.G. Stevens, C.B., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
D.V. Serrurier, 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)
G.F. Seel, Esq., K.C.M.G. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
A.B. Moore, Esq. (Representing the Minister of Works)
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.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
ADVISERS:
Sir William Halcrow, M. Inst. C.E. (Consulting Engineer)
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)
W.K.K. Kinnear, Esq., M.B.E. (Chief Records Officer)
F. Tyrrell, Esq., M.B.E. (Chief Enquiries Officer)
R.W. Murphy, Esq., O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |