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Minutes of the 412th Meeting of the Commission
Refers to the approval and signing of the minutes, including a comment from the Chairman, referring to unmaintainable graves in the United Kingdom, that the Secretary had written to the authorities responsible for four of the cemeteries in the United Kingdom containin3 unmaintainable graves and, in due course, these cases would be submitted to the Commission with proposals for action to be taken.
Award of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct
Announcement that Mr A. K. Pallot, Assistant Secretary of Finance and Establishments for the Commission, was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for brave conduct during the floods in Tunisia in November 1957 during the unveiling of the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial.
Visit by Vice-Chairman and Secretary to Northern Area, United Kingdom Region
Brief accounts of visits by the Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Commission to cemeteries in the vicinity of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Visit by Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore to cemeteries in South Africa, Rhodesia and East Africa
Brief account of Sir Arthur’s private visit to South Africa, Rhodesia and East Africa, mentions he would be giving a full account at the next meeting and would have a number of photographs in colour.
Report of the 457th Meeting of the Finance Committee
Report about the supply and erection of 422 synthetic replacement headstones at El Alamein War Cemetery and the replacement of further Portland headstones in North Africa; update on increased costs relating to the construction of Phaleron War Cemetery and the Athens Memorial; increased expenditure relating to the delayed construction of Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery; publication of the first part of Volume VI of “Their Name Liveth”; promotion of three members of the Permanent Maintenance Staff in the United Kingdom.
Purchase of office premises, Southern Region
Refers to authorisation granted to Edgar Allan Griffin to sign and purchase on behalf of the Commission the premises situated in Rome that was to become the new Southern Region offices.
Cape Town (Plumstead) Cemetery, South Africa
Refers to approval of modifications for the design of Cape Town (Plumstead) Cemetery, which was to include a perimeter kerb to the whole plot.
Yaba Cemetery, Lagos, Nigeria
Announcement regarding the signing of a 999-year lease for the land forming the site of Yaba Cemetery in Lagos, Nigeria.
General Notes
Account of Queen’s State visit to the Netherland during which wreaths were laid at Arnhem (Oosterbeek) War Cemetery by the British Air Attache and at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery by the Canadian Military Attache; showing of the Commission’s film at Rolvenden, Kent; letter received from Tanchum and Chaya Tanfilof, next of kin of a soldier that was to be commemorated on the Brookwood Memorial, regarding an invitation sent by the Commission to attend the unveiling ceremony.
ATTENDEES:
General Sir John Crocker GCB KBE DSO MC (Vice-Chairman of the Commission)
Campbell Moodie (Representing the High Commission for Canada)
T. A. Wharton (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
E. A. Broadridge (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
F. W. Thomashoff (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Brigadier D. G. R. Ragwade (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Captain S. M. Akhtar (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
S. H. Field (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
A. J. Isaac (Representing the Minister of Works)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore GCB DSO
The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Spens KBE GC MP
G. O. Sylvester MP
Captain Sir Harold Campbell GCVO DSO RN
Sir Arthur Rucker KCMG CB CBE
Admiral Sir John Edelsten GCB GCVO CBE
SECRETARY
W. J. Chalmers CBE
ADVISERS
Sir Edward Maufe RA FRIBA (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
Also in attendance:
Colonel M. S. Chatterjee MC (Office of the High Commissioner for India)
W. Wynne Mason MC (Assistant Secretary (External Relations))
Major-General J. F. D. Steedman CBE MC (Director of Works)
C. R. Kirton, MBE (Chief Accountant)
W. F. W. Harding BSc (Chief Horticultural Officer)
P. T. Fitzgerald (Legal Assistant)
P. J. Cook |