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The Chairman welcomed Major Bashir Ahmed, representative for the High Commissioner of Pakistan, who was attending a Commission meeting for the first time.
Matters arising from the Minutes of the 446th Meeting: photographs of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Delhi War Cemetery were distributed among members; decision not to remove the two war graves from Tarm, which were also marked by a memorial stone erected by the local population, as the municipality had agreed to ensure their maintenance.
Matters arising from the Minutes of the 447th Meeting: report on further developments concerning the threat to Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery and Extension.
The Chairman welcomed Mr T. L. Macdonald, the new High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, as a Member of the Commission.
Details of the arrangements and preparations for the unveiling of The Athens Memorial, which was to be carried out by HRH The Duke of Gloucester and attended by The Black Watch and Officers who had commanded formations in the fighting in Greece.
Visit by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore to Northern Region (Holland, Germany, Belgium and France) – 10th to 14th April 1961: report on visits to cemeteries and memorials at Amsterdam, Amersfoort, Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Jonkerbos and Groesbeek in the Netherlands; report on visits to cemeteries at Reichswald Forest and Rheinberg in Germany; visit to the Area Office at Ypres, the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Aeroplane Cemetery, Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial, Red Farm Military Cemetery, Berks Cemetery Extension, Ploegsteert Memorial, and cemeteries at Rekem, Heverlee and Brussels in Belgium; visit to cemeteries and memorials at Armentieres, Sailly-sur0Lys, Neuve Chapelle, Faubourg, d’Amiens, Souchez, Vimy, Givenchy-en-Gohelle, Thelus, Roclincourt, Thiepval and Villers-Bretonneux in France.
Visit by Director of External Relations and Records to Eastern Region and Anzac Agency for the Pacific Region – 17th February to 1st April 1961 Report on inspection of the Eastern Region, investigation of the situation in Indonesia, inspection of the work in Australia and the Anzac Agency for the Pacific Region and liaison visit to New Zealand to view sample of war graves maintained by the New Zealand Government; comments regarding the importance of an adequate water supply in the Eastern Region, with specific reference to Karachi, Taukkyan, Thanbyuzayat and Kanchanaburi, and keys to successful management of the Region; concerns over the regroupment of graves in Indonesia; details of visit to cemeteries and war graves at Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney in Australia; account of visit to cemeteries at Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa in New Zealand.
Report of the 490th Meeting of the Finance Committee Excess expenditure for maintenance works under contract with Entreprise Reynes on the Arras Memorial and Faubourg d’Ameins Cemetery; expenditure on repairs to approach road at Acroma War Cemetery; expenditure on the construction of stores and a rest room for cemeteries on the Gallipoli Peninsula; expenditure on the unveiling of the Athens Memorial.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committee Appointment of H. E. Monsieur Jacques de Their, Belgian Ambassador in London, as a Belgian Honorary Member for the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee.
Acquisition of the exclusive right of burial in a First World War grave in Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery.
Authorisation for the Regional Director of administrative Regions to provide a local lawyer to act on the Commission’s behalf when required.
Report on the correspondence and arrangements between the Commission and Government of Cyprus for the security and maintenance of Commonwealth war graves in Cyprus.
General Notes Introduction of the Commission’s film at the headquarters of the Victoria League; forthcoming visit by The Queen to lay a wreath at Rome War Cemetery; attendance by Lord Spens at the Annual Act of Commemoration at the Runnymede Memorial and Anzac Day Service in Westminster Abbey; account of unannounced visit by the President of Burma U. Win Maung to Taukkyan War Cemetery.
ATTENDEES: General Sir John Crocker GCB KBE DSO MC (Vice-Chairman of the Commission) Mr H. F. Clark (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada) Air Vice-Marshal A. M. Murdoch CB CBE (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia) Mr R. L. Jermyn (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand) Lieutenant-Colonel A. K. Sahukar (Representing the High Commissioner for India) Major Bashir Ahmed (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan) Mr J. H. H. Vaughn (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies) Mr J. W. T. Pritchard (Representing the Minister of Works) Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore GCB DSO The Rt. Hon. Lord Spens KBE Sir Arthur Rucker KCMG CB CBE Admiral Sir John Edelsten GCB GCVO CBE
SECRETARY Mr W. J. Chalmers CBE (Director-General)
Also in attendance: Mr W. Wynne Mason MC ((Assistant Secretary) Director of External Relations and Records) Mr A. K. Pallot ((Assistant Secretary) Director of Finance and Establishments) Mr H. L. Simmons LLB (Legal Adviser and Solicitor) Mr D. H. Lloyd ARICS (Deputy Director of Works) Mr W. F. W. Harding OBE BSc (Chief Horticultural Officer) Mr A. S. Laing MVO Mr P. J. Cook |