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The Chairman welcomed the Adjutant-General, General Sir Richard Goodbody, and Major Malik Bashir, representing the High Commissioner of Pakistan, both of whom were attending a Commission meeting for the first time.
Matters arising from the Minutes of the 448th Meeting
Update on the threat to Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery and Extension, including a letter from the United Arab Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Area Superintendent; details of the unveiling of the Athens Memorial, which was unveiled by The Duke of Gloucester and attended by The King and Queen of the Hellenes, The Duchess of Gloucester and Crown Prince and Princesses Sophia and Irene.
Copies of articles about the Commission’s work that appeared in the Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times, and script of a broadcast concerning the Commission’s work on the BBC were distributed among members.
Report of the 492nd Meeting of the Finance Committee
Maintenance of three memorials on the Gallipoli Peninsula, which included the replacement of damaged panels; write-off of money stolen from the Southern Region Regional Headquarters; four appointments to the Permanent Maintenance Staff; construction of the Gan Memorial in the Maldive Islands; construction at Choc Bay Cemetery; concentration of graves from inaccessible burial grounds in Norway; arrangements to interchange facilities between the Commission’s Superannuation Scheme 1952 and the schemes of Public Boards; expenditure on Social Welfare; grant to the Ypres British Settlement.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committee
Appointment of Monsieur Jean Druppe, Inspecteur General a l’administration centrale de l’Enregistrement et des Domaines, as Belgian Official Member of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee.
Unmaintainable Graves, Irish Republic – Drogheda (Little Calvary) Cemetery, County Louth
Approval of the proposed exhumation of two Commonwealth war burials from Drogeda (Little Calvary) Cemetery and reinterment of the remains in Grangegorman Military Cemetery.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Superannuation Scheme (1952) – Transfers to and from the Scheme: Arrangements for interchangeability between the Commission’s Superannuation Scheme (1952) and the United Kingdom Civil Service, the United Kingdom Local Government and the United Kingdom National Health Service, and similar arrangements with Schemes of Public Boards, such as the National Coal Board, Electricity and Gas Boards and the Atomic Energy Authority, and Metropolitan Police Staff.
Weston Mill Cemetery, Plymouth
Deed of Grant by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of the City of Plymouth of the exclusive right of burial in a First World War grave in Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery.
Maintenance of 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial at Thiepval, Somme, France
Financial arrangements for the maintenance of the 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial at Thiepval.
Progress Report and Reports from the United Kingdom, Northern and Eastern Regions, Canadian Agency and Anzac Agency for the Pacific Region for the Quarter ended 31st March 1961.
General Notes
Details of visit by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Rome War Cemetery, by The Queen Mother to Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery and Enfidaville War Cemetery and the pilgrimage of the Australian “Rats of Tobruk” Association to Tobruk War Cemetery; report on Anzac Day ceremonies held in the United Kingdom; report on a ceremony held at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery; account of unannounced visit by President Nasser of the United Arab Republic and President Tito of Yugoslavia to El Alamein War Cemetery;
Agreement to protect the interests of the Commission and Tower Hill Memorial following proposals to widen the existing Underground tunnel beneath the site of the memorial.
ATTENDEES:
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore GCB DSO (In the Chair)
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)
Mr F. W. Thomashoff (Representing the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa)
Lieutenant-Colonel A. K. Sahukar (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Brigadier Malik Bashir (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)
Sir Arthur Rucker KCMG CB CBE
Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest KBE CB
Mr John Hogg TD
General Sir Richard Goodbody KBE CB DSO
SECRETARY
Mr W. J. Chalmers CBE (Director-General)
ADVISER
Sir Edward Maufe RA FRIBA (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser)
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 P. J. Cook |