| Content Note | Topics covered:
Matters arising from the Minutes of the 462nd Meeting
Request by the Chairman that participating Governments reply to the Commission’s proposals regarding the percentages of contributions and future financial arrangements; account of Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest’s tour in the South-Western Area, United Kingdom Region, which included visits to approximately 60 burial grounds; execution and completion of the new Instrument of Agency for the Anzac Agency for the Pacific Region; announcement that the Bill promoted by the Northampton Corporation, which included the clause protecting the Commission’s interests in Billing Road Cemetery and other cemeteries at Northampton, had received the Royal Assent; details of the Chairman’s attendance at the Northern Region’s Annual Reunion and Flower Show held at Ypres.
Death of Mr C P Herbert
The death of Mr C. P. Hebert, Canadian Ambassador to the Netherlands, was reported.
Retirement of Admiral Sir John Edelsten as a member of the Commission
Announcement regarding the retirement of Admiral Sir John Edelsten, who had been a member of the Commission, Finance Committee, and Commonwealth-Belgian and Commonwealth-Italian Joint Committees.
Appointment of Admiral Sir Guy Grantham as Member of the Commission
Appointment of Admiral Sir Guy Grantham, former Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Malta, as a member of the Commission.
Commonwealth-Indonesian War Graves Agreement
Announcement regarding the signing of the Commonwealth-Indonesian War Graves Agreement.
Tour by Vice-Chairman in Scandinavia
Report of tour by the Vice-Chairman in Scandinavia for the purpose of meeting with Scandinavian officials concerned with the Commission’s work, to call on the Commonwealth Missions in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, and to visit war graves and the two new plots at Kviberg Cemetery and Fredriksstad Military Cemetery.
Adoption of the 43rd Annual Report of the Commission.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committee
Appointment of His Excellency Oneverole Paolo Rossi, Vice-President Camera dei Deputati, as Italian Honorary Member of the Commonwealth-Italian Joint Committee.
Agreement for the new Instrument of Agency for Uganda.
Agreement between Samuel Adeleye Adenle, the Ataoja of Oshogbo, and the Commission for a lease of the land forming the site of Oshogbo Cemetery.
Agreement between the Government of the Western Region of Nigeria and the Commission for a lease of the land forming the site of Lafenwa Cemetery.
Report on the surrender by the Commission of burial rights in respect of German war dead transferred by the German War Graves Organisation to Cannock Chase War Cemetery.
Progress Report for the Quarter ended 30th June 1962
Update on the completed construction at Maynamati War Cemetery, Digboi War Cemetery and Harar Catholic Mission Cemetery; report on construction progress in the Northern Region, with specific reference to Kviberg Cemetery in Sweden and Fredriksstad Military Cemetery in Norway; report on construction progress in the Southern Region, including the erection of a Cross of Sacrifice at Rhoades War Cemetery, construction at Suda Bay War Cemetery in Greece, Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery in Syria, Khanaqin War Cemetery and Mosul War Cemetery in Iraq, Tehran War Cemetery in Iran, Tel-el-Kebir War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt, Khartoum War Cemetery in Sudan, Diego Suarez War Cemetery in Madagascar, Le Petit Lac Cemetery and Bougie Cemetery in Algeria, Salisbury Cemetery in Rhodesia, Kaduna War Cemetery in Nigeria; report on construction progress in the Eastern Region, including Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Burma; completion of all construction work in the Canadian and South African Agencies; report on construction in the Anzac Agency for the Pacific Region, including the erection of bronze plaques markers at Jakarta War Cemetery and Ambon War Cemetery; report on construction progress at Choc Bay Cemetery in Trinidad and the printing of Registers, the Final Index of the Second World War and punching of index cards for the First World War;
Reports from the United Kingdom, Northern, Southern and Eastern Regions, Canadian Agency and Anzac Agency for the Pacific Region for the Quarter ended 30th June 1962
Details of horticultural mobile groups operating in the Northern Region; rehabilitation work at cemeteries in Iraq; report concerning speech by Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker following visit to Yokohama War Cemetery and Anzac Day ceremonies in the Pacific Region;
General Notes
Details of ceremonies held at Dieppe to mark the anniversary of the raid in 1942 and in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery; account of visit by the Italian Minister of Defence and members of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies to El Alamein War Cemetery and Memorial.
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 M. Hillebrand (Representing the High Commissioner for South Africa)
Major S. P. Barua (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Major Bashir Ahmad (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
Mr J. W. T. Pritchard (Representing the Minister of Public Buildings and Works)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore GCB DSO
The Rt. Hon. Lord Spens KBE
Admiral John Edelsten GCB GCVO CBE
Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest KBE CB
Mr David Griffiths MP
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)
Major-General J. F. D. Steedman CBE MC (Director of Works)
Mr M. T. Sennett MA (Senior Legal Assistant)
Mr W. F. W. Harding OBE Bsc (Hort.) (Chief Horticultural Officer)
Mr P. J. Cook |