Content Note | Topics covered:
The Chairman welcomed Mr P. A. K. Manton, representative for the High Commissioner for Australia, who was attending a meeting of the Commission for the first time.
Matters arising from the Minutes of the 460th Meeting Update on the draft clause for the protection of the Commission’s interests in Billing Road Cemetery.
High Commissioner for India Announcement that the Chairman and Secretary called on Mr M. C. Chagla to welcome him as the new representative High Commissioner for India in London.
The Ottawa Memorial Report on an act of vandalism at the Ottawa Memorial.
Birthday Honours Announcement that Mr J. R. Avery, Area Works Officer, Albert Area, had been appointed an MBE and that Mr A. Haines, Head Gardener, Arras Area, Northern Region, had been awarded the BEM.
Tour by Vice-Chairman in South-Western Area UK Account of tour by the Vice-Chairman in South-Western Area, United Kingdom Region, which included visits to cemeteries in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.
Visit by the Director of External Relations and Records to Southern Region (Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Greece) – 8th to 22nd May 1962 Discussions about the future of Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, the civic redevelopment scheme for Damascus, the ability for Commission officials to visit war cemeteries in Iraq, access to Jerusalem War Cemetery, and a draft War Graves Agreement with Greece; account of the Director of External Relations and Records visit to Beirut War Cemetery, Phaleron War Cemetery Hadra War Memorial Cemetery.
Report of the 503rd Meeting of the Finance Committee Details of the structural maintenance at the Thiepval Memorial; concentration of outlying graves in the Malagasy Republic into Diego Suarez War Cemetery; maintenance at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery; report on structural maintenance at Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery; details of construction at Fredriksstad Military Cemetery; expenditure on the concentration of graves in Indonesia into Ambon War Cemetery and Jakarta War Cemetery; payment of the 11th of the 15th annual instalments to the Trustees of the Commission’s Superannuation Scheme; expenditure on social welfare.
Percentages of Contributions to the Commission by Participating Governments Report on the proposed final percentages of contributions in respect of the Second World War and the proposed conjoint percentages of contributions in respect of both World Wars.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committee Appointment of His Excellency Monsieur Geoffrey de Courcel, French Ambassador at London, as French Honorary Member of the Commonwealth-French Joint Committee.
Approval of the sketch design by Mr Ralph Hobday, OBE, FRIBA, for Diego Suarez War Cemetery, with details concerning the removal of the parade ground and security of tenure to the site.
Maintenance of Memorial to Lieutenant Rupert Brooke, RNVR, Island of Skyros, Greece Financial arrangements for the maintenance of the memorial to Lieutenant Rupert Brooke, RNVR, which was located on the Island of Skyros.
Khayat Beach War Cemetery, Haifa, Israel - Supply of Electricity to Caretaker’s Quarters Arrangements for the supply of electricity to the Caretaker’s quarters at Khayat Beach War Cemetery.
El Alamein War Cemetery, United Arab Republic Discussion concerning the flying of flags at the annual service of Remembrance at El Alamein War Cemetery.
General Notes Details of ceremony held at Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery and visit by General Sir Richard Hull, Chief of Imperial General Staff, to Nairobi War Cemetery; account of the unveiling of the Provincial Memorial at Christchurch, New Zealand; arrangements for the 3rd Meeting of the Commonwealth-Italian Joint Committee.
Salerno War Cemetery Refers to correspondence with Lieutenant-Colonel The Lord Wigram, whose father had been a former member of the Commission, regarding his visit to Salerno War Cemetery.
Visit by Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest to Canada Report on visit by Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest to a plot of war graves located north of Toronto.
ATTENDEES: General Sir John Crocker GCB KBE DSO MC (Vice-Chairman of the Commission) Mr H. F. Clark (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada) Mr P. A. K. Manton (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 South Africa) Lieutenant-Colonel A. K. Sahukar (Representing the High Commissioner for India) Major Bashir Ahmad (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan) The Rt. Hon. Lord Spens KBE Admiral John Edelsten GCB GCVO CBE Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest KBE CB Mr John Hogg TD Mr David Griffiths MP
SECRETARY Mr W. J. Chalmers CBE (Director-General)
ADVISERS Sir Edward Maufe RA FRIBA (Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser) Mr H. D. Morgan MSc (Eng.) MICE (Consulting Engineer)
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 (Hort.) (Chief Horticultural Officer) Mr P. J. Cook |