| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Approval, signing and amendment of the 371st Commission meeting minutes.
Report of the 416th Finance Committee meeting
Item 1 requested authorisation of the expenditure during the recess period.
Item 2 referred to the appointment of Mr Wynne Mason to the Permanent Maintenance Staff of the Commission as Chief Administrative Officer of the Middle Eastern District.
Item 5 referred to the maintenance by the Commission of Netherlands War Graves in the United Kingdom and in Commission cemeteries overseas.
Item 18 referred to the replacement by gates of the existing bollards at Cambes-en-Plaine War Cemetery to prevent animals from getting into the cemetery.
Item 26 referred to charge-hand labourers who were confirmed to be engaged in renovating stonework in the United Kingdom.
Item 29 referred to the rates of Temporary Currency and Local Allowances for staff in the French and North-West European Districts.
Item 30 recommended expenditure for vehicles for the Headquarters of the new Middle Eastern District in Cyprus.
Membership of the Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committees
Refers to changes in the membership of the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee and the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee.
Procedure for the appointment of Netherlands members to the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee - Outlines the procedure for the appointment of Netherlands members to the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee.
War Graves Agreements
Discussion regarding necessity and purpose of the war graves agreements and summary of progress of agreements with Japanese government and the Israeli and Jordan governments.
Examination of sketch design by Philip D. Hepworth, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for North-West Europe, for Dunkerque Town Cemetery and the Dunkirk Memorial, France.
Examination of sketch design by P.E. Cornu, A.R.I.B.A., for Grandcourt War Cemetery, France.
Examination of sketch design by Philip D. Hepworth, F.R.I.B.A., Principal Architect for North-West Europe, for Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany, with resolution for the omission of the flanking pergolas to the shelters and the reduction to table height of the Register Box housing, without further reference to the Commission.
Horson Cemetery, Torpoint, Cornwall
Resolution for Deed of Grant from the Torpoint Urban District Council relating to the exclusive rights of burial in the Services Plot and the right to erect and maintain a Cross of Sacrifice in an agreed position within the Plot at Horson Cemetery, Torpoint, Cornwall.
47th Quarterly Report for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom
Mentions that the Commission took note of the paper submitted.
General notes
Mentions that the Order of Service for the Unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice in the Service Plot in Manchester Southern Cemetery was passed around along with photographs of the plot.
Construction of the Halifax Memorial, Canada
Resolution relating to the proposed construction of the Halifax Memorial on a new site in Citadel Hill Park, Canada.
Broadcast about the Commission’s work in the French Service of the B.B.C.
Mention from F. Higginson, C.B., C.M.G., Secretary of the Commission, that the BBC had broadcast on their French service between 4 and 7 July 1954 about the Commission’s work, including recordings of conversations with Brigadier Vale and several members of' the Commission's gardening staff in France. In Ypres, recordings were made of the chimes of the town clerk; the stopping of the traffic at the Menin Gate, the sounding of the "Last Post" and traffic restarting; and finally a short interview with the Chairman of' the Last Post Committee. The programme was entirely in French.
Unveiling of the Alamein Memorial
Mentions that the Alamein Memorial was due to be unveiled next October.
Sales of ‘Their Name Liveth’
Refers to the promotion of sales of the publication ‘Their Name Liveth’.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 16 September 1954 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. (Vice-Chairman in the Chair)
Frederic Hudd, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
E. McCarthy, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
W. Wynne Mason, Esq., M.C. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
D.V. Serrurier, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
P.N. Haksar, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Captain M. Jan (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
D.K. Malone, Esq., M.B.E. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B., D.L.
Sir Patrick Spens, O.B.E.,Q.C., M.P.
George Sylvester, Esq., M.P.
Captain Sir Harold Campbell, G.C.V.O., D.S.O.
ADVISERS:
Sir William Halcrow, M. Inst. C.E. (Consulting Engineer)
Sir Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A., F.R.I.B.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
SECRETARY:
F. Higginson, Esq., C.B., C.M.G.
Also in attendance:
W.H. Bunning, Esq.
W.J. Chalmers, Esq., C.B.E. (Assistant Secretary)
Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C (Director of Works)
H.L. Simmons, Esq. LL.B (Legal Adviser)
O.D. Holt, Esq., (Principal, Secretarial Branch)
W.K.K. Kinnear, Esq., M.B.E. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |