| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Apologies for absence:
Lord Wigram
Sir Richard Hopkins
Sir Herbert Ellissen
Sir William Halcrow.
Approval and signing of the 343rd Commission meeting minutes
A) Closure of the Commission’s Western Mediterranean District
B) Tour of cemeteries in Malta, Italy and Sicily by Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Longmore.
New Year Honours
K.B.E. awarded to His Excellency the Hon. T.W. White, D.F.C., V.D., High Commissioner for Australia
C.B. awarded to Brigadier F. Higginson, Esq., C.M.G., the Commission’s Secretary
O.B.E. awarded to W.P.L. Arnott, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, French District
M.B.E. awarded to L. Watson, Senior Clerk, French District
B.E.M. awarded to T.H. Baker, Head Gardener, French District, and J.W. Gamble, Gardener Caretaker, North-West European District.
Prague War Cemetery, Czechoslovakia
Mention of success in inducing the Czechoslovakian Government to commence in construction of Prague War Cemetery.
Jerusalem War Cemetery
Mention of proposal obtained from the Israeli Government to de-mine Jerusalem War Cemetery and to permit the necessary repairs to be carried out.
Report of the 388th Finance Committee meeting
Refers discussion from the last meeting and the annual estimates presented.
Item 3a gave a list of 1914-1918 war cemeteries in which major repair work was required.
Item 4 dealt with the construction of Makassar War Cemetery.
Item 10 dealt with the construction of Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.
Item 13 dealt with the construction of Nyeri War Cemetery, Kenya.
Item 18 referred to four vacancies which had been filled by promotions of existing staff.
Examination of sketch design by Edward Maufe, R.A., Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser, for the projected Tower Hill Memorial to the Missing 1939-1945 Extension, United Kingdom.
Examination of sketch design for Biguglia War Cemetery, Corsica.
Examination of sketch design by Colin St. Clair Oakes, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for India, Pakistan and South-East Asia, for Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong.
37th Quarterly Report for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom.
Mention that Mr Kinnear, the Chief Administrative Officer of the UK District, was present to answer questions.
Eastleigh Cemetery and Chandler's Ford Burial Ground, Hampshire
Resolution for Deed of Grant vesting in the Commission the exclusive rights of burial in the war graves in Eastleigh Cemetery and Chandler's Ford Burial Ground, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
General notes
Comment that the Commission took note of the paper submitted.
India, Pakistan and South-East Asia District
Report on the progress of work in the India, Pakistan and South-East Asia District given in a talk by Brigadier H.N. Obbard, Chief Administrative Officer; includes comments about concentration work in 1951 and the first cemeteries where construction had taken place in India and Pakistan.
Claims by staff in France and Belgium
Discussion regarding claims by staff in France and Belgium for compensation for loss of property and personal effects in 1939-1940.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 21 February 1952 at 11:00am.
Transcript of talk delivered by Brigadier H.N. Obbard, Chief Administrative Officer, India, Pakistan and South-East Asia District.
ATTENDEES:
The Rt. Hon. Antony Head, C,B.E., M.C., M.P. (Secretary of State for War and Chairman of the Commission in the Chair)
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B. (Vice-Chairman in the Chair)
His Excellency Mr L.D. Wilgress (High Commissioner for Canada)
His Excellency Group Captain The Hon. T.W. White, D.F.C., V.D. (High Commissioner for Australia)
Major-General W.E. Stevens, C.B., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
C.H. Torrance, Esq. (Deputy High Commissioner for South Africa)
W.B. England, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Brigadier M.A. Khanzada (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 for 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.
Sir Patrick Spens, K.B.E., K.C., M.P.
General Sir John Crocker, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.
George Sylvester, Esq., M.P.
ADVISERS:
Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
SECRETARY:
F. Higginson, Esq., C.M.G.
Also in attendance:
W.H. Bunning, Esq.
H.J. Neethling, Esq.
Captain J.T. Chopping
Captain K.A. Rashid
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
W.J. Chalmers, Esq. (Assistant Secretary)
Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C. (Principal Deputy Director of Works)
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) |