| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence
General Sir John Crocker
Sir William Halcrow
Welcome to Trafford Smith who was attending his first Commission meeting as representative of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Approval and signing of the 333rd Commission meeting minutes:
A) Death of Count Memmo
B) Publication of Lutyens memorial volumes
C) Re-organisation of South-East Asia
D) Allied War Graves.
Visit by the Prime Minister of New Zealand to cemeteries and memorials in France
Mention of the PM’s tour with reading of an extract of the appreciative letter that he sent to the Commission.
Supplies of bronze
Refers to the Government’s restrictions on the use of bronze and that the Chairman had written to the Minister of Works to request his assistance in acquiring supplies for the Commission’s needs.
Death of Major John Bain
Refers to death of Major John Bain, the head of Messrs. Bain and Sons, the insurance brokers to the Commission since 1945.
The Secretary’s tour
Report of tour of New Zealand by the Secretary Brigadier Frank Higginson with reading of a summary by Mr Sillar. Refers to the showing of the Commission’s film at five centres in New Zealand, a broadcast talk from Wellington on the Commission's work, visits to twelve cemeteries, and discussions with Government officials on matters concerning New Zealand Service Dead buried in New Zealand and overseas.
Bayeux War Cemetery, France
Mention of renaming of boulevard leading past Bayeux War Cemetery to Boulevard General Fabian Ware in honour of the Commission’s late former Vice-Chairman.
Photograph of Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Burma
Mention of a large panoramic photograph of Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Burma received and on display in the Committee Room.
Film lecture at Ipswich
Mr Sillar said that a showing of the Commission’s film and accompanying lecture was delivered at Ipswich Town Hall on 5 February 1951. Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson had kindly driven over with Lady Gordon-Finlayson and proposed a vote of thanks.
Mercantile Marine War Memorial, Tower Hill
Mention of meeting at the Ministry of Transport, to which the Secretory, Sir Gilmour Jenkins, had invited representatives of the National Maritime Board to come and view Edward Maufe’s design for the Tower Hill Memorial to the Missing 1939-1945 Extension.
Report of the 378th Finance Committee meeting
Item 2 referred to the construction of the Liverpool Memorial.
Item 4 referred to rates of pay and allowances in French and North-West European Districts, which were due to be discussed at a meeting of the Joint-Negotiating Committee.
Item 9 dealt with construction in Germany.
31st Annual Report
Comments from Members about the Commission’s 31st Annual Report: suggestion from Sir Herbert Ellissen to include approximate total number of burials next to each cemetery; suggestion from Sir Arthur Longmore to the caption to the photograph of Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.
Canadian Agency
Refers to the proposed transfer of the Commission's Canadian Agency from the Ministry of National Defence to the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs.
Examination of sketch design for cemetery construction - Hermanville War Cemetery, France.
Examination of sketch design for cemetery construction – Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand.
Towchester Road Cemetery, Northampton
Question over whether the interment of widows in ground in Towchester Road Cemetery reserved for the Commission for the graves of soldiers was likely to create an awkward precedent.
General notes: Reference to Chairman’s recent tour of cemeteries at Stratford-upon-Avon, Nottingham, Harrogate, Lincoln, Cranwell, Cambridge, Newmarket and Chelmsford.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 15 March 1951 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)
W.H. Bunning, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
Major 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)
Trafford Smith, 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., D.S.I.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Hopkins, G.C.B.
Harold Neal, Esq. M.P.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Herbert Ellissen, C.B.E.
Sir Patrick Spens, O.B.E., K.C., M.P.
ADVISERS:
Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
Also in attendance:
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
W.J. Chalmers, Esq. (Assistant Secretary)
R.W. Bateman, Esq. (Director of Works)
H.P.R. Foster, Esq., O.B.E. (Legal Assistant)
O.D. Holt, Esq. (Principal, Secretarial Branch)
A.S. Laing, Esq. (Private Secretary to the Secretary)
W.K.K. Kinnear, Esq., M.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |