| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Death of Sir Herbert Ellissen
Refers to the death of Sir Herbert Ellissen, who was the Commission’s Controller and Financial Adviser for many years and member of the Commission and of the Finance Committee since 1947 and Honorary Secretary to the Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund Trustees since 1927. Mention the memorial service was held on 3 July 1952.
Approval and signing of the 349th Commission meeting minutes
A) Tour of cemeteries in Holland by Sir Patrick Spens
B) Tower Hill Memorial
C) Plymouth Naval Memorial
D) Report by Brigadier C.S. Vale, Chief Administrative Officer, French District.
High Commissioner for India
Mention of the retirement of His Excellency Mr. V.K. Krishna Menon, High Commissioner for India and a member of the Commission since August 1947. He was succeeded as High Commissioner and as a member of the Commission by His Excellency B.G. Kher.
Unveiling of the Liverpool Memorial
Mention that the Chairman and Secretary had met with the civic authorities to discuss the proposals for the unveiling of the Liverpool Memorial.
Secretary to the South African Agency
Appointment of Mr Moody Lane as Secretary to the South African Agency to succeed the late E.J. Scholtz.
Jerusalem War Cemetery
Update regarding issues with accessibility to Jerusalem War Cemetery to demine it due to various incidents.
Zehrensdorf Indian Cemetery, Germany
Mentions that Indian Ambassador in Berlin and the Indian Minister in Bonn had been asked to take up the matter of damages in Zehrensdorf Indian Cemetery, Germany.
Retirement of Mr E.G. Marshall, M.B.E.
Refers to the retirement of Mr E.G. Marshall, M.B.E., who had been a member of the Commission’s Records Department for thirty-three years and had been one of the original members of Sir Fabian Ware’s Mobile Unit of the British Red Cross Society.
Garden fete at Wooburn House
Refers to a successful garden fete held in the grounds of Wooburn House on 12 July 1952 with a range of activities organised including sports, an inter-departmental tug-of-war, a concert, and side-shows. In the evening there was dancing on the lawn under the four-hundred-year-old plane tree.
Report of the 394th Finance Committee meeting.
Item 4 concerned the construction of Rome War Cemetery, Italy.
Item 5 recommended authority for expenditure during the recess amounting to £150,000.
Superannuation Scheme
Refers to the approval and confirmation of Trust Deed and Rules of the Commission’s Superannuation Scheme.
Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee
Refers to the membership of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee, listing all members of the committee, both honorary and official.
Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan
Discussion regarding proposed acquisition of a strip of land surrounding the four plots of Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan.
Examination of sketch design by Louis de Soissons, R.A., Principal Architect for Italy and Greece, for Cassino War Cemetery, Italy, including comments about his inclusion of a pool in the design and the planting of stone pines in the cemetery.
Examination of sketch design by Colin St. Clair Oakes, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for India, Pakistan and South-East Asia, for Delhi War Cemetery India, including comments suggesting the omission of two seat features and linking pergola and the columnar feature at the back of the Cross of Sacrifice.
Examination of sketch design by Colin St. Clair Oakes, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for India, Pakistan and South-East Asia, for Karachi War Cemetery, Pakistan.
South African Battlefields Pilgrimage
Summary of comments regarding feedback from pilgrims of the South African Battlefields Pilgrimage, 1952.
39th Quarterly Report for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom
Mentions that members took note of the paper submitted.
Chichester Cemetery, Sussex
Resolution for Deed of Grant vesting in the Commission the exclusive rights of burial in the war graves of the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 Wars at Chichester Cemetery, Sussex.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 18 September at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B., D.L. (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-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)
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.
Sir Patrick Spens, K.B.E., Q.C., M.P.
General Sir John Crocker, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.
ADVISERS:
Sir William Halcrow, M. Inst. C.E. (Consulting Engineer)
Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A., F.R.I.BA. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
SECRETARY:
F. Higginson, Esq., C.M.G.
Also in attendance:
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
W.J. Chalmers, Esq. (Assistant Secretary)
Brigadier N.E.V. Patterson, O.B.E. (Principal Deputy Director of Works)
H.L. Simmons, Esq. (Legal Adviser)
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) |