| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Amendment, approval and signing of the minutes of the 347th Commission meeting.
Visit by the President of the Commission to cemeteries in Normandy
Report of the visit by H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, President of the Commission, including reading of a letter of appreciation from Major Michael Hawkins following the visit.
Unveiling of the Greek Memorial in Athens to British Commonwealth war dead
Report of the unveiling of the Greek Memorial in Athens to British Commonwealth war dead by the King of the Hellenes on 25 April 1952.
Tour of cemeteries in French District by Sir Arthur Longmore
Report of tour with comments about space for names in visitors’ books, the use of prefabricated metal crosses instead of wooden crosses, removal of graves from Lisieux Communal Cemetery to St. Desir, the chapel at Rouen, and Commission staff in the district.
Visit to Italy by Major-General W.G. Stevens, representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand Report of the visit including comments about Bolsena War Cemetery, the Greek cemetery south of Rimini and Stevens’ own opinions about Arrow Route Cemetery, Florence.
Sir Patrick Spens
Refers to a tour of cemeteries in Holland by Sir Patrick Spens, who was unable to attend the meeting to give a report and would so at the Commission’s 349th meeting in June 1952.
Tour of Germany, Holland, Belgium and France by Vice-Chairman and Principal, Secretarial Branch
Report of the tour given by the Vice-Chairman Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B. and Principal of the Secretarial Branch O.D. Holt, Esq., including comments about the two cemeteries at Heerstrasse and Olympischestrasse in Berlin, constructional work in Holland, presentation of the British Empire Medal to Head Gardener Baker at a large gathering at Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, and further remarks about 1914-1918 cemeteries in France.
Golders Green Crematorium, Middlesex
Refers to the unveiling and dedication of the Memorial to the dead of the 1914-1918 War and the 1939-1945 War at Golders Green Crematorium, Middlesex, on 18 May 1952 by Lord Wigram.
Doors for the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial
Refers to the presentation of the doors for Runnymede Memorial by the Mond Nickel Company, which had made the doors for the New York World Fair. The Company had further agreed to make a gift of the sum of £750, as part of the cost of adapting and extending these doors to suit the portico entrance of Mr. Maufe's design.
Gibraltar Agency
Mention that Major J.G. Robertson, R.E., had been appointed Honorary Secretary to the Gibraltar Agency in succession to Major D.C. Russell, R.E..
Merchant Navy Memorial Bill
Mention that the Merchant Navy Memorial Bill had received its second reading in the House of Lords and was going forward as an unopposed measure.
Report of the 392nd meeting of the Finance Committee
Item 1 referred to the naval memorial at Lowestoft, on which work was now beginning.
Item 2 dealt with the proposed extension to the Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia.
Item 3 recommended revisions of the estimated cost of construction for cemeteries in South Arrica. Item 7 referred to the re-organization of the staff consequent upon the abolition of the Western Mediterranean District. It also recommended provision of additional works staff in the Eastern and Southern European Districts.
Item 17 referred to erection of headstones at El Alamein.
Item 18 recommended expenditure on the supply and erection of headstones in South Africa.
Item 20 indicated progress in construction in a number of small cemeteries in North-West European, Eastern and India, Pakistan and South-East Asia Districts.
Item 23 covered the supply of motor transport for the year 1952-1953, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Item 24 indicated in expenditure on welfare.
Notes at this point the High Commissioner for Australia joined the meeting.
Examination of sketch design for Holten Canadian War Cemetery, the Netherlands.
Examination of sketch design for Jonkerbos War Cemetery, the Netherlands.
Examination of sketch design for St. Charles de Percy War Cemetery, France.
Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1939-1945 Extension, Hampshire
Resolution for the affixation of the Commission’s seal and signature of the Proper Officer to the Counterpart Lease for the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1939-1945 Extension, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
Weston Mill Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon
Resolution for Deed of Grant of exclusive rights of burial in four graves in Weston Mill Cemetery, Plymouth, of members of the Royal Netherlands Forces.
Liverpool cemeteries
Resolution for Deed of Grant of the exclusive rights of burial in the Services Plot at Anfield Cemetery and certain war graves in the Allerton, Kirkdale, Toxteth Park, and West Derby Cemeteries at Liverpool.
Beccles Road Cemetery, Lowestoft, Suffolk
Assignment of burial rights at Beccles Road Cemetery, Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Mention that the Commission took note of the progress report submitted for the quarter ending 31 March 1952.
Stone of Remembrance at Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Mention that the Board of Management of the Australian War Memorial had replied that they were unable to accept the Commission's offer to erect a Stone of Remembrance at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in honour of the war dead buried in Australia.
Visit to Gallipoli by the High Commissioner for Australia
Mention of the visit by the High Commissioner for Australia His Excellency The Hon. Sir Thomas White, K.B.E., D.F.C. to Gallipoli, with letter read out by His Excellency.
Date of next meeting postponed from 19 June 1952 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B. (Vice-Chairman in the Chair)
His Excellency The Hon. Sir Thomas White, K.B.E., D.F.C., (High Commissioner of 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)
Trafford Smith, Esq. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Colonel the Rt. Hon. the Lord Wigram, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.S.I.
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.
Also in attendance:
W.H. Bunning, Esq.
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. (Director of Works)
O.D. Holt, Esq. (Principal, Secretarial Branch)
W.K.K. Kinnear, Esq., M.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |