| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Approval and signature of the 395th Commission meeting minutes – Matters arising out of the minutes
a) Appointment of Honorary Botanical Adviser Dr Taylor
b) Inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth-French-German Joint Committee.
Report of the 440th Finance Committee meeting
Item 1: Accounts for the year ending 31 March 1956 signed.
Item 2: Major maintenance at Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, and Le Treport Military Cemetery.
Item 3: Excess expenditure of approximately £1,166 on the construction of Kirkee War Cemetery.
Item 4: Re-appointment of Brigadier A.E. Brown as Secretary-General of the Anzac Agency for a further term of five years from 1 June 1956.
Item 9: Provision of entrance gate to the Commission plot at Harrogate (Wetherby) Cemetery.
Item 11: Construction of garage and lavatory accommodation and sundry minor works at El Alamein War Cemetery.
Item 12: Construction of a caretaker's quarter at Yokohama British Commonwealth War Cemetery.
Commemoration of Seamen of the Former Royal Indian Navy and Indian Merchant Navy
Resolution for the approval of the proposed commemoration of seamen of the former Royal Indian Navy and Indian Merchant Navy in the form of dedicatory plaques in Bombay, India and Chittagong, Pakistan.
Appointment, organisation and terms of reference of the Commonwealth-Iraq Committee
Resolution for the appointment, organisation and terms of reference of the Commonwealth-Iraq Committee.
Membership of the Commonwealth-Iraq Committee
Resolution for the appointment of members of the Commonwealth-Iraq Committee.
Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee and Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee
Appointment of members to the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee and the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee to fill vacancies.
General notes
Refers to flooding in Australia and that it was still too early to assess the extent of damage to war graves and cemeteries there.
Unveiling of the Cassino Memorial
Account of the unveiling of the Cassino Memorial on 30 September 1956 by Field Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis, with reading of extract of letter written by Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck.
Presentation of Honours by British Ambassador in Paris
Mentions that, at a recent Ceremony in Paris, the British Ambassador had presented to M. Mattei of the Ministere des Anciens Combattants et Victimes de Guerre the honorary C.B.E. awarded to him by Her Majesty The Queen. He had also presented to Head Gardener C.G. Humphries the British Empire Medal awarded to him in the Birthday Honours.
Tour of cemeteries in the United Kingdom by Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest
Report of tour by Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest, including comments about Oxford (Botley) Cemetery and Halton churchyard.
Remembrance Day Broadcasts
Mentions that on 11 November 1956 the BBC would be broadcasting programmes on radio and television "Their Name Liveth: a Remembrance Day tribute to the Dead of two World Wars", which would both be introduced by Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks.
Retirement of Major Andrew Macfarlane
Refers to the retirement of Major Andrew Macfarlane, the Commission’s District Works Officer at Brussels.
Damage in Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece
Mentions that the Australian Government had sent a note to the Royal Greek Legation in Canberra, asking the Greek Government to give consideration to the question of reimbursement of the cost of replacing the damaged headstones in Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece.
Date of next meeting scheduled for Thursday 22 November 1956 at 11:00am.
ATTENDEES:
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O. (Vice-Chairman in the Chair)
Arnold Smith, Esq. (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
E.J.B. Foxcroft, 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)
Lieutenant-Colonel M.M. Singh (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Captain S.M. Akhtar (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
A.J. Isaac, Esq. (Representing the Minister of Works)
The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Spens, K.B.E., Q.C., 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.
Admiral Sir John Edelsten, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.B.E.
Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest, K.B.E., C.B.
SECRETARY:
W.J. Chalmers, Esq., C.B.E.
ADVISERS:
Sir William Halcrow, M. Inst. C.E. (Consulting Engineer)
Sir Edward Maufe, Esq., R.A. (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
Also in attendance:
W. Wynne Mason, Esq., M.C. (Assistant Secretary (External Relations))
A.K. Pallot, Esq. (Assistant Secretary (Finance and Establishments))
Major-General J.F.D. Steedman, C.B.E., M.C (Director of Works)
Colonel E.A. Griffin, O.B.E., E.D. (Chief Administrative Officer, United Kingdom District)
A.S. Laing, Esq.
R.I. Mill, Esq.
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