| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Approval and signature of the 390th Commission meeting minutes.
Visit of the Chairman to war cemeteries in the Middle East
Refers to the visit by the Rt. Hon. Antony Head, C.B.E., M.C., M.P., the Commission’s Chairman, to cemeteries at Nicosia, Moascar, Fayid and Tobruk, with comments that the typed lists of names would need to be replaced soon.
Visit of the High Commissioner for New Zealand to cemeteries and Memorials in France
Mentions that following his visit to Bonn on 13 March to sign, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, the Commonwealth-German War Graves Agreement, the High Commissioner had visited the New Zealand Battle Exploits Memorials at Messines and Gravenstafel and several war cemeteries in the North West European District.
Report of the 434th Finance Committee meeting
Item 1: Expenditure for Dunkirk Memorial and Dunkerque Town Cemetery, France.
Retirement of the Secretary and Principal Assistant Secretary
Announcement of the retirement of the Secretary Sir Frank Higginson, Esq., C.B., C.M.G. and the Principal Assistant Secretary Frank C. Sillar, Esq., C.B.E.
Nordsel Churchyard, Norway
Resolution for the proposal for the erection of a Cross of Sacrifice in Nordsel Churchyard, Norway be approved as an exception to the Commission’s general practice.
Appointment of Proper Officers
Refers to Resolution No. 7 passed at the 306th Meeting of the Commission on 22 July 1948, be rescinded with effect from 23 April 1956, and also that William John Chalmers (Secretary), Walter Wynne Mason and Arthur Keith Pallot (Assistant Secretaries) be appointed with effect from 23 April 1956 as a Proper Officer of the Commission.
54th Quarterly Report for the maintenance of war graves in the United Kingdom
Refers to the changing of wording on the signposting for the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, and mentions large numbers of visitors to the Tower Hill Memorial. Also refers to vandalism at the Chatham Naval Memorial and new notices erected inside and outside Harrogate Cemetery.
General notes
Pilgrimage by British children to cemeteries at Nijmegen, Bergen-op-Zoom, Overloon and Oosterbeek.
Clearance of mines in Jerusalem War Cemetery
The High Commissioner for India in Australia had recently visited Port Moresby War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.
Unveiling of the Groesbeek Memorial
Mentions that the unveiling of the Groesbeek Memorial on 2 June 1956 by H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, would take place in the presence of the Prince of the Netherlands, who would be attending in his capacity of Commander-in-Chief of the Dutch Forces in the United Kingdom during the Second World War.
Unveiling of the Cassino Memorial
Mentions that Field Marshal Lord Alexander of Tunis had accepted the Commission's invitation to unveil the Cassino Memorial on 30 September 1956.
Damage to Headstones in Phaleron War Cemetery
Discussion regarding reports in the Times of 3-4 April 1956 and in other daily papers that unknown persons had entered Phaleron War Cemetery and had painted anti-British and pro-Enosis slogans on some of the headstones.
Award of C.B.E. to Jonaher DR C G C Quarles Van Ufford
Mention from the Secretary Sir Frank Higginson, Esq., C.B., C.M.G., that Her Majesty the Queen had appointed Dr C.G.C. Charles van Ufford, Queen's Commissioner for the Province of Gelderland, to be a C.B.E. in recognition of his outstanding services in the cause of Anglo-Netherlands friendship and understanding.
Visit by the Vice Chairman to Australia and the Far East
Account by the Vice-Chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. of his tour of Australia and the Far East, including comments about cemetery at Aden, Egypt, which he visited en route to Australia as well as cemeteries at Perth, Springvale, Hobart, Bairnsdale, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Sydney, Kranji, Yokohama, Labuan, Lutwyche, Wellington, as well as an American cemetery at Honolulu, Hawaii.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 17 May 1956 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
The Rt. Hon. Antony Head, C.B.E., M.C., M.P. (Secretary of State for War and Chairman of the Commission in the Chair)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. (Vice-Chairman)
Frederic Hudd, Esq., C.B.E. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
J.M. Henderson, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
J.G. Hale, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
D.V. Serrurier, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Brigadier Shaukat Ali Shah (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
I.B. Watt, Esq. (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Spens, K.C.B., Q.C., M.P.
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.
Captain Sir Harold Campbell, G.C.V.O., D.S.O., R.N.
Sir Arthur N. Rucker, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.B.E.
Admiral Sir John Edelsten, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.B.E.
SECRETARY:
Sir Frank Higginson, Esq., C.B., C.M.G.
ADVISERS:
Sir Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
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)
W. Wynne Mason, Esq., M.C. (Chief Administrative Officer, Middle Eastern District)
A.K. Pallot, Esq. (Chief Assistant Establishment Officer)
O.D. Holt, Esq., (Principal, Secretarial Branch)
A.S. Laing, Esq.
P.J. Mackay, Esq.
Colonel E.A. Griffin, O.B.E., E.D. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District) |