| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Approval and signing of 350th Commission meeting minutes.
Death of Sir Frederic Kenyon
Refers to the news of the death of Sir Frederic Kenyon, who had been the Commission’s Honorary Artistic Adviser, first appointed in 1917.
Death of Admiral Sir Howard Kelly
Mention of the death of Admiral Sir Howard Kelly, member of the Commission.
Letter from the Prime Minister of Ceylon
Refers to a letter of appreciation from the Rt. Honourable Dudley Senanayake, who had succeeded his late father as Prime Minister of Ceylon.
Matters arising out of the minutes of the previous meeting
a) Maintenance issues at Jerusalem War Cemetery
b) Mention that the Plymouth Council had accepted the recommendation of the Parks Committee regarding the Plymouth Naval Memorial and work had commenced.
c) Examination of sketch design for Delhi War Cemetery, India.
Visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to Oslo
Refers to visit to Oslo Western Civil Cemetery, Norway in July 1952 by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, who had laid a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice.
Birthday Honours
Mr Sylvester had presented the British Empire Medal which had been awarded to Head Gardener Harry Wilkins in Ypres.
In September Sir Arthur Longmore presented the British Empire Medal which had been awarded to Head Gardener, William Ivory, at Brookwood Military Cemetery, United Kingdom.
Tour by Sir Patrick Spens
Sir Patrick Spens was asked to report on his tour to cemeteries in the French District at the next Commission meeting.
Concentrations of war graves at Assam
Report that the Chief of the village of Samthang had asked whether photographs could be sent to the village of the two English officers whose graves were being removed as all the locals had regarded their graves with great respect for many years.
South African Pilgrimage
Refers to a letter of appreciation received from the Chairman of the South African Legion, British Empire Service League.
Treatment of headstones with silico-fluoride
Discussion regarding the treatment of headstones with silico-fluoride, a practice which had been adopted by the Commission in 1922 and was later revived after the Second World War, but reported by the Director of Works Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C., that the practice was ineffective. Resolution saw this practice becoming discontinued.
Committee Room
Mention that future meetings would take place on the first floor of the Commission’s building.
Report of the 395th Finance Committee meeting
Item 3 referred to the cost of Castiglione South African Cemetery in Italy, which had been higher than expected.
Item 13 referred to the erection of headstones in cemeteries in the Western Desert.
Item 14 was the first authority for cemetery construction in Tunisia.
Item 15 indicated the progress of the work in Germany.
Item 21 reported the appointment of Mr Moody Lane as Secretary to the South African Agency of the Commission in succession to the late Captain Scholtz.
Commonwealth-French Joint Committee
Refers to the membership of the Commonwealth-French Joint Committee, with a list of honorary and official members.
Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee
Outlining of the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee organisation and terms of reference.
Membership of the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee
Appointment of Mr T.A. Stone, new Canadian Ambassador to The Hague, as a member of the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee.
Distribution of cemetery registers
Discussion regarding proposal for provision of free copies of cemetery and memorial registers.
Sketch design for Kiel War Cemetery
Discussion regarding the sketch design for Kiel War Cemetery, Germany, including suggestions for the omission of the dipping well, provision of wooden slatted tops to the stone seats, the omission of the pergola and the omission of the stone kerb surrounding the Cross.
Amended design for Cassino War Cemetery and Memorial
Discussion regarding amended design for Cassino War Cemetery and Memorial, Italy, by Louis de Soissons, R.A., Principal Architect for Italy and Greece, including proposals that the coats of arms of the Commonwealth countries and the Royal Coat of Arms were omitted in place of carvings in relief of flora and fauna related to the nations represented on the Commission.
Regroupment of war graves in Java and Sumatra
Approval and referral of the matter of the regrouping of war graves in Java and Sumatra to the Finance Committee.
Nova Scotia Highlanders Memorial, Passchendaele, Belgium
Resolution regarding the investment of additional funds for the maintenance of the Nova Scotia Highlanders Memorial at Passchendaele, Belgium.
Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery, Devon
Resolution for Deed of Grant of exclusive rights of burial in two war graves of the 1939-1945 War in Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery, Devon, United Kingdom.
Progress report for the quarter ended June 1952
Comment by Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson that the Commission could not expect 100% of replies to final verification forms sent out to relatives.
General notes
Refers to the unveiling of a small monument placed on a multiple war grave in Hitcham, (All Saints) Churchyard, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 16 October 1952 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-General W.B. Stevens, C.B., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
W.B. England, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Captain K.A. Rashid (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
A.B. Moore, Esq. (Representing the Minister for Works)
Trafford Smith, Esq., C.M.G. (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., D.S.I.
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.B.A. (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)
Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C. (Director of Works)
H.L. Simmons, Esq. LL.B (Legal Adviser)
A.S. Laing, Esq. (Private Secretary to the Secretary) |