| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Approval and signing of the 354th Commission meeting minutes and matters arising from the minutes
a) Jerusalem War Cemetery
b) Meeting of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers in London
Lee-on-Solent Fleet Air Arm Memorial
Mention that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent had consented to unveil the Lee-on-Solent Fleet Air Arm Memorial on Wednesday 20 May 1953.
Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee
Mention that the first meeting of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee took place on 25 February 1953.
New Year Honours
Knighthood to Mr Frederick Doidge, the High Commissioner for New Zealand.
C.B.E. awarded to Mr A.T. Stirling, the Australian Ambassador at the Hague and an Honorary Member of the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee.
M.B.E. awarded to Mr J.P. Williams, Inspector, India, Pakistan and South-East Asia District.
B.E.M. awarded to Mr L. Jones, Travelling Superintendent District, French District and to Mr R. Symons, Head Gardener, North-West European District.
Director of Works’ tour of India, Pakistan and South-East Asia
Mention that the Director of Works Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C. had departed for his tour of India, Pakistan and South-East Asia and would return in March.
Death of Major A.L. Ingpen
Refers to the death of Major A.L. Ingpen, M.V.O., O.B.E., who held the post of the Commission’s Land and Legal Adviser in France and Belgium from 1919 until his retirement in 1932.
Report of the 399th Finance Committee meeting
Item 3 dealt with construction costs in India, Pakistan and South-East Asia District. This item was closely linked with the next Paper on the Agenda which dealt with the construction of Kohima War Cemetery, India.
Item 8 referred to headstones in Eire.
Item 17 recommended for the contract with Messr. Griggs for the production of headstones. The contract involved 140,000 headstones, of which 100,000 had been delivered.
Kohima War Cemetery, India
Discussion regarding the design of Kohima War Cemetery, India, with suggestion for the omission of the colonnade in place of a larger Cross of Sacrifice.
Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, United Kingdom
Resolution for Deed of Agreement embodying the financial arrangements to be entered into between the Egham Urban District Council and the Commission regarding the making up and maintenance of the approach road leading from Englefield Green to the Air Forces Memorial site at Runnymede and the construction of a car park.
Award of certificate for long and meritorious service
Suggestion for the creation of an award of certificate of long and meritorious service in light of the service of several gardeners in Gallipoli, Greece and Italy who had loyally served the Commission for many years.
41st Quarterly Report (up to 31 December 1952) for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom: refers to a proposal for the removal of temporary shelters erected by the Air Ministry at Cambridge and Oxford cemeteries.
Graves of the Korean War
Brief discussion regarding graves of the Korean War in Pusan Cemetery, Korea.
General notes
Mention that the Commission took note of the paper submitted.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 19 February 1953 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Smith, V.C., K.C.B., D.L. (Vice-Chairman in the Chair)
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)
H.J. Neethling, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Captain K.A. Rashid (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
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.
Sir Patrick Spens, K.B.E., Q.C., M.P.
ADVISERS:
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)
Brigadier N.E.V. Patterson, O.B.E. (Principal Deputy Director of Works)
H.L. Simmons, Esq. LL.B (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) |