Content Note | Topics discussed:
Announcement that the Vice-Chairman was still ill and unable to attend the meeting. It was agreed that Sir Patrick Spens would take the Chair for the meeting.
Death of Sir Richard Hopkins Refers to the death of Sir Richard Hopkins, who had been a commissioner since 1946, a member of the Finance Committee and since 1952 a trustee of the Commission's new superannuation scheme established in that year.
Approval and signing of the 379h Commission meeting minutes: a) Plaque at Addis Ababa War Cemetery, Ethiopia b) Film Lectures c) Japanese War Graves Agreement.
Visit of the President of the Commission to War Cemeteries in Italy Mention that the President of the Commission would be touring Italy in May. The cemeteries to be visited were Caserta, Minturno, Cassino, Anzio (War and Beach Head), Rome, Bolsena, Orvieto, hssisi, Arezzo, Florence, Gradara, Coriano Ridge, Villanova (Canadian), Ravenna, Forli (Indian) and Rimini (Gurkha), Santerno Valley and Castiglione (South African) Cemeteries.
Report of the 424th Finance Committee meeting Item 1 referred to the design of Naples War Cemetery, Italy. Item 2 referred to the construction of Beirut War Cemetery, Lebanon. Item 3 concerned the construction of a cremation memorial at Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery. Item 17 referred to the war cemeteries at Damascus. Item 22 concerned a memorandum reviewing the position of the major maintenance of 1914-1918 War Cemeteries and memorials in the French District.
Commonwealth War Graves at Posen and Cracow, Poland Mentions matter received from the Finance Committee about the treatment of graves at Posen and Cracow, Poland.
Jerusalem War Cemetery Mentions that that Her Majesty's Government intended to approach the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation and the Israeli and Jordanian Governments with further proposals for the clearance of the mines and the repair and maintenance of Jerusalem War Cemetery.
Examination of sketch design by Louis de Soissons, O.B.E., R.A., Principal Architect for Italy and Greece, for Naples War Cemetery, Greece.
50th Quarterly Report for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom Mentions visitor numbers at the Runnymede Memorial since it was unveiled in October 1953. Also refers to the bronze tablet at Great Bircham Churchyard, Norfolk and a new visitors’ book at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, North Yorkshire.
Maintenance of the 15th (Scottish) Division Memorial in Buzancy Military Cemetery, France Resolution for the transfer of stock for the maintenance of the 15th (Scottish) Division Memorial in Buzancy Military Cemetery, France.
General notes Mention that the Commission took note of the paper submitted.
Second Meeting of the Commonwealth-Belgian joint Committee Account summarising the second meeting of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee.
Tour of Cemeteries in Belgium and Holland by General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson Mentions that General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson was taking the opportunity afforded by his attendance at the Meeting of the Joint Committee in Brussels to undertake a short tour of the cemeteries in Belgium and Holland.
Tour of Cemeteries in and around Aberdeen by Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith Mentions that Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith had visited five cemeteries in and around Aberdeen during March: Dyce, New Machar, Trinity, Allenvale, and Kinloss.
Visit by Captain Sir Harold Campbell to Cemeteries in the U.K Mentions that Captain Sir Harold Campbell had visited the cemeteries at Dyce, Montrose, Arbroath, Perth and Newark-upon-Trent, with comments about the condition of Dyce Cemetery and the Commission’s policy for erecting a Cross of Sacrifice in cemeteries containing civilian graves as well as soldiers’ graves.
Appointment of Major W P L Arnott as Citoyen D’ Honneur de la Ville D’Arras Mentions that Major W.P.L. Arnott, O.B.E., Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of the Commission's French District, was to be granted the title of "Citoyen d 'Honneur de la Ville d'Arras" - an honour comparable to that of being granted the Freedom of a city in the UK.
Events in Cyprus Account of report received from Wynne Mason, Chief Administrative Officer for the Commission’s Middle Eastern District, regarding events in Cyprus.
Mr C.H. Torrance Mention that C.H. Torrance, Esq. was attending his last Commission meeting as the representative of the High Commissioner for South Africa.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 19 May 1955 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES: The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Spens, K.B.E., Q.C. M.P. (In the Chair) Frederic Hudd, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada) W.H. Bunning, 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) T.K. Nandi, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for India) Brigadier Shaukhat Ali Shah (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan) A.J. Isaac, Esq. (Representing the Minister of Works) J.S. Bennett, Esq., C.M.G. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies) George Sylvester, Esq., M.P. General Sir Harold Campbell, G.C.V.O., D.S.O., R.N.
ADVISERS: 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) Colonel E.A. Griffin, O.B.E., E.D. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |