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The Chairman welcomed Major-General R. W. Knights, who was attending the Commission Meeting for the first time while representing the High Commissioner for Australia.
Matter arising from the Minutes of the 414th Meeting
Announcement that C. Illeris, Head Gardener for the Commission, was under investigation in connection with the damaged headstones in East Mudros Military Cemetery.
Report of the 459th Meeting of the Finance Committee
Additional expenditure in connection with the maintenance of 23 cemeteries under contract with Entreprise Reynes, with details of the repairs still required at Delville Wood Cemetery, Guemappe British Cemetery, Serre Road No. 2 Cemetery and Ancre British Cemetery; decision to treat the bases of headstones in El Alamein War Cemetery with bitumen; payment by the Commission to the Trustees of the 1952 Superannuation Scheme and appointment of three members to the Commission’s Permanent Maintenance Staff; costs relating to maintenance at Terlincthun British Cemetery and Boulogne Eastern Cemetery; repairs carried out at Massicault War Cemetery and Enfidaville War Cemetery.
Chatham Naval Memorial
Signing of lease relating to additional land at the site of the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Approval of the sketch design for Harar Catholic Mission Cemetery designed by Mr L. D. Barrett, LRIBA.
Commonwealth-Thailand Committee
Refers to the establishment of the Commonwealth-Thailand Committee and appointment of members.
General Notes
Report of Japanese Buddhist Ceremony conducted in Taukkyan War Cemetery; update on construction of the Brookwood Memorial; details of Sir Patrick Spens visit to five cemeteries on the Asiago Plateau and Gradara War Cemetery; account of the Secretary’s visit to Rome, Northern Italy and Austria, including attendance at the Regional Area Superintendents’ Conference and Horticultural Conference and visits to 50 cemeteries; report of ceremony held in Bucharest War Cemetery; update on the situation in Lebanon and effect on the Commission’s work; request to erect a plaque in commemoration of F. E. Smith, Earl of Birkenhead; awarding of the MBE to Mr E. M. Haskins, Records Officer in the North-West European Region, and British Empire Medal to H. H. Sherbourne, Head Gardener in the Northern Region; retirement of Captain Harold Campbell as a Member of the Commission; appointment of Major John Hogg as a Member of the Commission.
ATTENDEES:
The Rt. Hon. Christopher Soames CBE MP (Secretary of State for War and Chairman of the Commission)
General Sir John Crocker GCB KBE DSO MC (Vice-Chairman of the Commission)
Campbell Moodie (Representing the High Commission for Canada)
Major-General R. W. Knights OBE (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)
Lieutenant-Colonel Chatterjee MC (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Major N. A. Husain (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
General Sir Charles Loewen GCB KBE DSO ADC
Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest KBE CB
SECRETARY
W. J. Chalmers CBE
ADVISERS
Sir William Halcrow M. Inst. CE (Consulting Engineer)
Sir Edward Maufe RA FRIBA (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
Also in attendance:
W. Wynne Mason MC (Assistant Secretary (External Relations))
A. K. Pallot (Assistant Secretary (Finance and Establishments))
Major-General J. F. D. Steedman CBE MC (Director of Works)
H. L. Simmons LLB (Legal Adviser)
A. S. Laing
P. J. Cook |