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Announcement that General Sir John Anderson was elected to deputise for the Vice-Chairman during the meeting.
The Chairman welcomed Mr P. H. Viljoen, representative of the Ambassador of South Africa, and Mr N. A. Haroon, successor to Mr S. K. Dehlavi as High Commissioner for Pakistan, who were attending a Commission Meeting for the first time.
New Year Honours
Awarding of the BEM to Mr W. MacLeod, Head Gardener “A”, Northern Region.
Matters arising from the 495th Meeting of the Commission
Report that the Commission had submitted the estimate of the cost of moving Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery and Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery to the United Arab Republic authorities; approval of the Annual Estimates of Expenditure; report on the phasing out of the Southern Region Headquarters in Rome and search for a new location for Head Office; proposal to erect a plaque on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to record the damages caused to the memorial during the Second World War.
Vice-Chairman of the Commission
Extension of Admiral Sir Guy Grantham’s appointment as Vice-Chairman of the Commission until 31st March 1970.
Honorary Artistic Adviser to the Commission (COM 1/54)
Report concerning the retirement of Sir Edward Maufe as Honorary Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser for the Commission and appointment of Professor Lord Holford as Honorary Artistic Adviser starting from 1st April 1969.
Report of the 536th Meeting of the Finance Committee
Resolution renewing the powers of the Secretary and Director-General to authorise minor expenditure; details of the write-off of funds in the Commission’s account at the Bank of Alexandria due to the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East in June 1967; details concerning the supply of the new type of roadside direction signs; approval of additional expenditure for restoration work at Jerusalem War Cemetery; appointments of Mr Stewart as Senior Architect and Colonel Griffin as Regional Director of the Northern Region.
Membership of the Finance Committee
Appointment of the Ambassador of South Africa as a Member of the Finance Committee.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committees
Appointment of Monsieur Michel Denieul, Directeur de l’Architecture, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles, as French Official Member of the Commonwealth-French Joint Committee; appointment of General d. Kav. a. D. Siegfried Westphal, President des Ringes Deutscher Soldatenverbande, as Germany Honorary Member and HerrDekan a. D. Walter Trepte, Preseident of the German War Graves Commission, as German Official Member of the Commonwealth-German-French Joint Committee.
Secretary-General and Regional Director, Anzac Agency for the Pacific Region
Arrangements concerning the selection and appointment of a Secretary-General and Regional Director of the Anzac Agency of the Commission for the Pacific Region in succession to Brigadier A. E. Brown.
Graves not within the Commission’s Control – United Kingdom
Approval of the classification of the 793 war graves enumerated in List No. 18 of war graves in the United Kingdom recommended for classification as “not within the Commission’s control”.
Unmaintainable Graves – United Kingdom: Barnes Old Cemetery, London
Approval of the proposed commemoration of one Commonwealth war burial in Barnes Old Cemetery on the First World War Screen Wall in Hammersmith Old Cemetery.
Unmaintainable Graves, United Kingdom: Rotherwick Churchyard, Hampshire
Approval of the proposed commemoration of two Commonwealth war burials in Rotherwick Churchyard on special memorial headstones, bearing suitable superscriptions, that were to be erected within the war graves plot in Basingstoke (Worting Road) Cemetery.
Execution of Documents
Authorisation for the Area Superintendent of each Administrative Area, including the Italy Area, Eastern Mediterranean Area, Levant Area, North-East Africa Area, East Africa Area and North and West Africa Area, to sign on behalf of the Commission any documents in connection with the discharge of its functions.
Reports from Regions and Agencies for the Quarter Ended 31st December 1968 (CM 211/1-6)
Details of the price of maintenance per grave in the Republic of Ireland; discussion concerning the responsibility for Malaysia, which was divided between the Eastern Region and Pacific Region.
General Notes
Details of the photographic exhibitions commemorating the Commission’s 50th Anniversary that were being held in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand; arrangements for the meeting of the Commonwealth-German-French Joint Committee that was to be held in Bonn on 24th April 1969; account of wreath-laying ceremonies at the German Ittenbach War Cemetery and Cologne (Southern) Cemetery.
Other Business
Report on the design and construction of the shelter building at Tehran War Cemetery; the death of Major Andrew MacFarlane, former Clerk of Works, Chief Clerk of Works, Inspector of Fabric, Assistant to the Director of Works and Deputy Director of Works in Belgium, was reported; announcement concerning the retirement of Sir George Taylor, the Commission’s Honorary Botanical Adviser.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Guy Grantham GCB CBE DSO (Vice-Chairman of the Commission)
Mr F. C. Boyle (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
Mr R. M. Miller (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
Mr P. H. Viljoen (Representing the Ambassador of South Africa)
Major R. K. Batra (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Mr J. W. T. Pritchard (Representing the Minister of Public Building and Works)
Mr Verner Wylie
Miss Joan Woodgate CBE RRC
Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter Cheshire GBE KCB
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)
Brigadier K. F. Daniell CBE BA (Director of Works)
Mr H. L. Simmons LLB (Legal Adviser and Solicitor)
Mr W. F. W. Harding OBE BSc (Hort.) (Chief Horticultural Officer)
Mr J. P. P. Smith |