| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Approval and signature of the 384th Commission meeting minutes
a) Arrangements for the unveiling of the Tower Hill Memorial
b) Visit by the Vice-Chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. to Canadian Agency
c) Visit by the Vice-Chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. to Dunkirk and comments about the memorial window design by John Hutton
d) Omission in the 383rd Commission meeting minutes.
Visit to Canadian Agency by the Vice-Chairman
Account of visit by the Vice-Chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. to Canadian Agency, including comments about “Last Post” graves, the newly unveiled Halifax Memorial and cemeteries around Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.
Report of the 429th Finance Committee Meeting
Item 2 recommended expenditure on the provision of two new tablets to be placed in the cathedrals at Boulogne and Rouen.
Item 8 referred to major maintenance required at Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery because water had collected underground and had damaged the lower portions of a wall, which now had to be rebuilt.
Item 15 dealt with the offer by the Polish Government to contribute towards the cost of constructing two British war cemeteries in Poland. The matter would be addressed later in the meeting.
First meeting of the Commonwealth-Italian Joint Committee
Account of the first meeting of the Commonwealth-Italian Joint Committee, including discussion of the proposed concentration of Italian war graves in the United Kingdom into a single plot at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.
36th Annual Report of the Commission
Mention that the draft of the 36th Annual Report of the Commission had been passed around, with suggestion from Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser Sir Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A. for Principal Architects to be mentioned by name at the beginning of the report.
War Graves in Poland: Contribution by Polish Government to of Construction at Posen Old Garrison Cemeteries and Cracow British Cemetery - Resolution accepting the Polish Government’s offer to share in the cost of the cost of the constructional and horticultural work at Posen Old Garrison Cemetery and Cracow British War Cemetery in Poland.
52nd Quarterly Report for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom
Refers to question of notice board being placed on the Wetherby Road to show directions to Harrogate cemetery, also mentions number of visitors to the Runnymede Memorial in the last quarter.
General notes
Mentions that the Members took note of the paper submitted.
Remembrance Day
Describes arrangements for Remembrance Day including service at Westminster Abbey and radio broadcast on the BBC’s Home and Overseas Service.
Tour by Mr George Sylvester in the French and North-West European Districts
Account of tour by George Sylvester, Esq., M.P. in the French and North-West European Districts, including comments about flat headstones at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France; register box at Hotton War Cemetery, Belgium; sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate.
British Legion Pilgrimage to the Bayeux Memorial
Mentions that the pilgrimage to the Bayeux Memorial organised by the British Legion for those relatives who were unable due to the railway strike to attend the unveiling ceremony in June had taken place on 16 October 1955.
Manjunga European Cemetery, Madagascar
Mentions that that a local firm of contractors, at Majunga, Madagascar, Entreprise Generale Fraixe, had generously offered to carry out free of charge the construction of headstone blocks, the placing of standard kerbs and the erection of headstones supplied by the Commission for the war graves in Majunga European Cemetery, Madagascar.
Lecture to the Institute of Park Administration
Mentions that at the invitation of the Institute of Park Administration, Mr W. H. Moore, Horticultural Officer in the French District, had read a paper on the horticultural aspects of the Commission's work at the Institute's Annual Conference at Southsea at the beginning of September.
Death of Brigadier E S Hacker
Announcement of death of Brigadier E.S. Hacker, who had been Transport Adviser to the Commission from August 1945 to June 1951.
Portsmouth Naval Memorial Laying of Wreath by Admiral Golovko
Mention that on 14 October 1955 Admiral Golovko, who was in command of the Russian ships then at Portsmouth, had laid a wreath at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, United Kingdom.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 17 October 1955 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)
J.G. Hale, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
D.V. Serrurier, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
K.R. Narayanan, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Captain M. Jan (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
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.
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.L.
George Sylvester, Esq., M.P.
General Sir John 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., A.D.C.
General Sir Harold Campbell, G.C.V.O., D.S.O., R.N.
ADVISERS:
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)
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)
A.S. Laing, Esq.
Colonel E.A. Griffin, O.B.E., E.D. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |