| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Approval, signing and amendment of the 372nd Commission meeting minutes:
a) Procedure for the Appointment of Netherlands Members to the Commonwealth-Netherlands -Joint Committee
b) War Graves Agreements
c) Halifax Memorial
d) Unveiling of the Alamein Memorial.
Extension of appointment of Secretary to the Commission
Resolution to renew the appointment of Brigadier F. Higginson, C.B., C.M.G., as Secretary to the Commission, for a further term of one year until 22 April 1956, subject to the usual provisions regarding fitness.
Report of the 417th Finance Committee meeting
Item 1 concerned the tender for the construction of the cemetery and memorial at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Rangoon.
Item 2 concerned the appointment of Brigadier D.R. Agnew, C.B.E., C.D., as Chief Administrative Officer, North West European District.
Item 11 dealt with the supply and fixing of the bronze name panels for the Merchant Navy Memorial, Tower Hill.
Examination of sketch design by H.E. Jenner, A.R.I.B.A., Architect, for Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery, Holland.
Examination of sketch design by A. Stewart, A.R.I.B.A., Architect, for Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
Progress report for the quarter ended 30 June 1954: comments on constructional programme and progress of records, particularly headstone schedules for the 1939-1945 War.
'Show Place' cemeteries, India and Pakistan
Resolution for the removal of graves of the 1939-1945 War in Bombay (Sewri) Cemetery, Nicholson Cemetery, Delhi, Agra Cantonment Cemetery and Meerut Cantonment Cemetery; resolution for the regrouping of graves of both wars in Calcutta (Bhowanipore) Cemetery and Rawalpindi Cantonment Cemetery; resolution for the regrouping of 1914-1918 graves in Bombay (Sewri) Cemetery and Meerut Cantonment Cemetery; resolution that the names of those buried in graves of the 1914-1918 War in Agra Cantonment Cemetery, Simla Old Cemetery, and Lahore (Taxali Gate) Cemetery, be recorded on the Memorials in the new war cemeteries at Kirkee, Madras and Karachi.
General notes
Attention called to the paragraph regarding the ceremony held in June at the Allied War Cemetery at Murmansk in Northern Russia and that photographs were available.
Unveiling of the Alamein Memorial
Summary of arrangements for the unveiling of the Alamein Memorial by Lord Montgomery on 24 October 1954 on the 12th anniversary of the battle.
Article in the Sunday Express criticising the Commission
Refers to an article which appeared in the ‘Sunday Express’ criticising the Commission.
The Secretary of State for the Colonies
Mentions that the Rt. Hon. Alan Lennox-Boyd, M.P., had succeeded the Rt. Hon. Oliver Lyttelton (now Viscount Chandos or Aldershot) as Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Degree for Sir Edward Salisbury
Mentions that the degree for Doctor of Laws which had been conferred by the Chancellor or the University for Glasgow upon Sir Edward Salisbury, the Commission's Botanical Adviser.
Visit to cemeteries in North-Western European District by Sir Patrick Spens
Mentions that Sir Patrick Spens, O.B.E.,Q.C., M.P. had recently visited North-Western European District.
Appointment of a Trustee of the Endowment Fund
Refers to the formal Deed appointing the Vice Chairman in the place of Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith as a Trustee of the Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund.
Reburial of Netherlands Servicemen in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Refers to the removal of 24 Netherlands Servicemen buried in civilian cemeteries in Bangkok and their reburial in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.
Middle Eastern District
Mentions that W. Wynne Mason, the new Chief Administrative Officer for Middle Eastern (formerly Eastern) District would be taking up his new duties shortly at Nicosia, Cyprus.
Commission’s Regional Office, Northern District, United Kingdom
Resolution for the approval for Mr Thomas Albert Turner, Inspector, Northern District, to sign the Tenancy Agreement on behalf of the Commission for the occupation of three rooms on the first floor of premises at 37, Oxford Street, Harrogate, Yorks, for use as the Commission’s Regional Office.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 21 October 1954 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. (Vice Chairman in the Chair)
J.A. Donald, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
W.H. Bunning, Esq. M.C. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
J.G. Hale, Esq., (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
C.H. Torrance, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
N. Nandi, 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)
A.B. Moore, Esq. (Representing the Minister of Works)
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Spens, O.B.E.,Q.C., M.P.
General Sir John T. Crocker, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.
General Sir Cameron Nicholson, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.
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:
F.C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E. (Principal Assistant Secretary)
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) |