Record

Unique IDCWGC/2/2/1/325
File NumberWG 1831/267
TitleCOMMISSION MEETING NO.325 - April 1950
Multimedia

58\49d2bc-319b-44b4-9752-97e3d7ff2ad6.pdf

DescriptionMinutes of the 325th Meeting of the Commission
Content NoteTopics discussed:

Apologies for absence
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, who was still indisposed.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore
Sir Patrick Spens
Sir William Halcrow

Cremation memorials to commemorate Hindu, Sikh and Gurkha soldiers of the Indian Army
Comments on resolution from previous meeting regarding cremation memorials proposed to commemorate Hindu, Sikh and Gurkha Soldiers of the Indian Army who are known to have been cremated outside, the non-operational Zones of India and Pakistan.

30th Annual Report
Mention that publication of the Commission’s 30th Annual Report delayed until 12 April 1950 and a copy sent to His Majesty the King George VI.

Lord Lawson of Beamish
Mention that a letter of thanks was received from Lord Lawson of Beamish in reply to the congratulatory letter sent by the Commission.

Prague (Olsany) Cemetery
Mention that a formal letter was sent to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, pointing out that the refusal to grant a visa to the Commission's representative to visit Prague was inconsistent with the Treaty of 3 March 1949.

High Commissioner for South Africa
Note that the High Commissioner for South Africa Mr Leif Egeland would be succeeded by Dr A. Geyer.

Major-General Sir Fabian Ware
Mention that the memorial tablet to Sir Fabian Ware in Westminster Abbey was now in position and photographs were passed around the members.

Vice-Chairman's visit to Holland and Germany
Announcement from Vice-Chairman he would shortly be leaving for a tour of inspection of cemeteries in Belgium, Holland and Germany and returning on 26 April 1950.

Stone of Remembrance at Ambon War Cemetery
Brief referral to Brigadier Brown’s comments about the Stone of Remembrance proposed for inclusion at Ambon War Cemetery where he felt there were insurmountable practical difficulties for including the Stone at the cemetery.

Plymouth Naval Memorial 1939-1945 Extension
Mention that Plymouth City Council had approved Edward Maufe's design for the Extension to the Naval War Memorial on the Hoe.

Film lectures by the Principal Assistant Secretary
Brief mention that Commission film lectures delivered by F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E., Principal Assistant Secretary, to audiences at Sheffield and Chorley on 19 and 21 March 1950, with Mayor of Chorley and Lord Mayor of Sheffield present.

International Agreements
Explanation by F. Higginson, Esq., C.M.G., Secretary, about the eight international treaties being negotiated with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Egypt, Iraq, Burma and Thailand.

Report of the 369th Meeting of the Finance Committee
Item 12 recommended expenditure on construction at Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery for approval.
Item 15 referred to the purchase, alteration and repair of office premises at Velp.
Item 23 concerned construction of the headstone beams and toolsheds in Germany.
Item 30 referred to the Superannuation Scheme.

Graves in Burma and Thailand
Refers to report of Committee presided over by Sir Arthur Longmore with the following resolutions:
a) The cemetery at Rangoon to be retained.
b) Graves in the cemeteries at Sahmaw, Mandalay, Meiktila and Akyab be concentrated into a central site near Rangoon.
c) Existing cemeteries at Thanbyuzayat in Burma and Kanchanaburi and Chungkai in Thailand be retained and permanently constructed in a simple manner.
d) the Secretary be and hereby is instructed to prepare detailed proposals and an estimate of cost for consideration by the Finance Committee.

South African Agency – Supplemental Instrument
Supplemental Instrument providing for the appointment by resolution of the Commission of Mr I.T. Meyer as an additional and fourth member of the South African Agency and for the formal delegation to the Agency or the necessary powers in relation to the 1939-45 War.

30th Quarterly Report of the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom (up to 31 March 1950)
Departure of Mr Murphy and summary of his career with the Commission
Air force graves at Oxford and Bath
Headstones on all Australian graves of the 1939-1945 War at Brookwood, Bath and Oxford
Sir Fabian Ware’s grave in Amberley Churchyard
Progress of work in the United Kingdom.

Proposed memorial to the Fleet Air Arm at Lee-on-Solent – Agreement with architects
Refers to agreement with Mr J.C. Smith, A.R.I.B.A. and Mr L.K. Pallister, A.R.I.B.A. to act as joint architects in execution of the proposed Memorial to the Missing of the Fleet Air Arm at Lee-on-Solent.

Proposed memorial to the missing at Liverpool – Agreement with architect
Refers to agreement with Mr C.F. Blythin, F.R.I.B.A., toact as sale' Architect in the execution of the proposed Memorial to the Missing of the Naval Auxiliary Personnel at Liverpool.

Cirencester Cemetery, Gloucestershire
Resolution for deeds of Grant in duplicate of the exclusive rights of burial in war graves in Cirencester Cemetery, Gloucestershire.

Mention of visit to Saiwan Bay Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, by Mr. Lester Pearson, Secretary of State for External Affairs in the Canadian Government and by Mr R.W. Mayhew, Minister of Fisheries in the Canadian Government.

Mention of visit to Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan, by Mr Pearson, noting he wrote in the Visitor’s Book and that a day had been set aside for the planting of trees in cemetery by members of the British Commonwealth Mission in Tokyo.

Report of progress in Eastern District
Legion of Honour awarded to Mr Millington, the Area Superintendent in Gallipoli area, by the French Republic
Mount Scopus cemetery in Jerusalem used as a military strongpoint
Damage at Ramleh Cemetery
Progress of the cemetery at Heliopolis, Egypt.

Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 18 May 1950 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)
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)
H.J. Neethling, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
W.B. England, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Captain J.T. Chopping (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
Sir 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)
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, M.P.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
General Sir James S. Steele, K.B.E., C.B., 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. (Legal Assistant)
W.K.K. Kinnear, Esq., M.B.E. (Chief Records Officer)
Colonel E.A. Griffin, O.B.E., E.D. (Chief Administrative Officer, Eastern District)
R.W. Murphy, Esq., O.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District)
Date27/3/1950 - 4/12/1950
Extent1 file
CollectionArchive
CategoryMeeting Notes
ArchNotePlease note that the downloadable document is the final version of the Committee Meeting minutes. Additional information, including the verbatim minutes and subsidiary reports, may be available in the physical file.

Show related Persons records.

Persons
CodePersonNameDates
DS/UK/2Ware; Sir; Fabian Arthur Goulstone (1869-1949); newspaper editor and the founder of the Imperial War Graves Commission1869-1949
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