| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Mention in the absence of the Vice-Chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, the Members elected Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B., D.L. to take the Chair for the meeting.
Approval and signature of the 380th Commission meeting minutes:
a) Japanese War Graves Agreement
b) Visit of the President of Italy
c) Commonwealth graves at Posen and Cracow
d) Account of tour in Belgium and Holland by General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson
e) Tour of cemeteries in Scotland by Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith.
Unveiling of the Bayeux Memorial
Mentions that H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester would unveil the Bayeux Memorial on 5 June 1955.
Report of the 425th Finance Committee meeting
Item 1 referred to additional expenditure relating to the construction of the El Alamein Memorial and War Cemetery.
Item 2 concerned the construction of Milan War Cemetery.
Item 21 concerned the publication of the first part of a second volume of photographs of war cemeteries and memorials.
Second Meeting of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee
Brief account of the second meeting of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee.
Membership of the Commonwealth-French Joint Committee
Refers to the retirement of His Excellency Sir Keith Officer, O.B.E., M.C. and His Excellency Monsieur R. Massigli, G.C.V.O. , K.B.E. Also refers to the appointment of His Excellency Sirdar Hardit Singh Malik and His Excellency Monsieur Jean Chauvel as Honorary Members, and the appointment of General Sir Harold Campbell, G.C.V.O., D.S.O., R.N. as an Official Member.
Membership of the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee
Refers to the resignation of J.H. Wieffering; appointment of Vice-Admiral C.W. Slot, Flag-Officer Personnel of the Netherlands Navy, representing the Netherlands Minister of War. Also mentions C.B.E. awarded to Madame van Anrooy de Kempenaer, President of the Netherlands War Graves Foundation, in recognition of the help she had so generously and untiringly given to the 'Commission in their work in the Netherlands.
Commonwealth-Danish War Graves Agreement
Refers to the appointment of a Joint Committee - M.W. Errock Esquire, (Second Secretary at the British Embassy in Copenhagen) and F.M. Tovell, Esquire (First Secretary to the Canadian Legation in Copenhagen.
Commonwealth War Graves in Norway
Refers to exchange of letters between the Norwegian Government and H.M. Ambassador at Oslo.
Examination of sketch designs by Ralph Hobday, A.R.I.B.A. for Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery, and Chester (Blacon) Cemetery.
Cross of Sacrifice and entrance feature at Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire
Resolution regarding Deed of Grant from the Corporation of Chester relating to the exclusive rights of burial in the Services Plot and the right to erect and maintain a Cross of Sacrifice and Entrance· feature· in agreed positions within the Plot at Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire.
Progress report
Comments from the Director of Works Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C. that in the Suez Canal Zone, the cemeteries at Ismailia, Fayid, Kantara, Port Said and Moascar were completed and that only three cemeteries remained to be completed: two at Suez, and one at Tel-el-Kebir.
General notes
Mentions that the Commission took note of the paper submitted.
Commonwealth-Italian War Graves Agreement
Mention that the Commonwealth-Italian War Graves Agreement had been ratified.
Unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice at Pietermaritzburg
Refers to report received from the South African Agency that the Crosses of Sacrifice were unveiled at Mountain Rise Cemetery and Fort Napier Cemetery, both at Pietermaritzburg in Natal, on Sunday 17 April 1955.
Annual Act Of Remembrance at Runnymede Memorial
Brief report of annual act of remembrance at the Runnymede Memorial when it was the turn of the Canadian representative to lay a wreath.
Letter from the Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force
Refers to a letter received from the Chaplain-in-Chief of the R.A.F. Canon A.S. Giles on his return from a recent tour in the Middle and Far East expressing his appreciation of the way in which the war cemeteries were looked after.
Removal Of Graves in Stalin (Formerly Varna) Cemetery, Bulgaria
Proposal for the removal of war graves at Stalin (formerly Varda) Cemetery to Sofia War Cemetery, Bulgaria.
Death of Mr A. Hunter
Announcement of death of Mr Alec Hunter, Finance and Administrative Officer in the Commission's Middle Eastern District.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 16 June 1955 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B., D.L. (In the Chair)
Frederic Hudd, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
Brigadier H.E.Gilbert, D.S.O., O.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
D. Serrurier, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
T.K. Nandi, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
A.J. Isaac, Esq. (Representing the Minister of Works)
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., D.L.
General Sir John Crocker, G.C.B., K.B.E.,D.S.O., M.C.
General Sir Harold Campbell, G.C.V.O., D.S.O., R.N.
ADVISERS:
Sir William Halcrow, M. Inst. C.E. (Consulting Engineer)
Sir Edward Maufe, Esq., R.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)
H.L. Simmons, Esq. LL. B (Legal Adviser)
Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C (Director of Works)
O.D. Holt, Esq., (Principal, Secretarial Branch) |