| Content Note | Topics covered:
The Chairman welcomed Sir John Winnifrith, who had succeeded Sir Arthur Rucker as a Member of the Commission, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Sikund, representative of the High Commissioner for India, and Mr Apa Pant, who had succeeded Mr S. S. Dhavan as High Commissioner for India and Member of the Commission.
Announcement that General Sir John Anderson had been appointed as Colonel Commandant of the Ulster Defence Regiment.
Matters arising from the 498th Meeting of the Commission
Report on the functioning of the reformed areas of the old Southern Region, which were now reporting to Head Office, visit by the Secretary to the Eastern Mediterranean Area and the new Near East Area, and sale of the former office premises in Rome; report that the granite from London Bridge was not suitable for use by the Commission due to the size and cost issues; publication of the 50th Annual Report and Statement of Accounts; account of the Gardeners’ Service at Westminster Abbey; report of the Vice-Chairman’s tour in East Africa Area, which included visits to Kenya, Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as the inauguration ceremony at Dar-es-Salaam War Cemetery.
Estimates 1970/71 (F.2210)
Memorandum on the Estimates and Schedule 1, which included details about increases in pay and other costs during the last year, the provision of funds for the Estimates and total grants for the coming year.
Report of the 539th Meeting of the Finance Committee
Discussion concerning the Annual Estimates; expenditure for the purchase of a small Area office in Rome; extension of field trials of two toxic washes used to combat biological growths on headstones and structures; details of a contract to supply headstones in Orton Scar Limestone as a substitute for granite in places where atmospheric pollution made Portland stone unsuitable; expenditure for the repair of the ornamental bronze doors at the entrance to the Runnymede Memorial; report on the half-yearly inspection of the Thiepval Memorial by the Director of Finance and Establishments and the Director of Works; report concerning the pay of United Kingdom based manual staff.
Membership of the Finance Committee
Appointment of Sir John Winnifrith as a Member of the Finance Committee.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Superannuation Scheme (1952) – Appointment of New Trustees (CM 270/6/6/LC): appointment of Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter Graemes Cheshire and Sir Alfred John Digby Winnifrith as Trustees of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Superannuation Scheme (1952).
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committees
Appointment of Mr J. van Dalsen, South African Ambassador at Brussels, as Commonwealth Honorary Member, Sir John Winnifrith as Commonwealth Official Member, and M. R. van de Velde, Inspecteur-General de l’Enregistrement et des Domaines, Ministere des Finances, as Belgian Official Member of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee; appointment of Mr Richard Wagner Hansen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Danish Member of the Commonwealth-Danish Joint Committee; appointment of Sir Patrick Hancock, United Kingdom Ambassador at Rome, as Commonwealth Honorary Member and Sir John Winnifrith as Commonwealth Official Member of the Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee.
Graves not within the Commission’s control – United Kingdom
Approval of the classification of the 835 war graves enumerated in List No. 21 of war graves in the United Kingdom recommended for classification as “not within the Commission’s control”.
Unmaintainable Graves, United Kingdom: Northampton (Billing Road) Cemetery, Northamptonshire
Approval of the proposed commemoration of 121 Commonwealth war burials in Northampton (Billing Road) Cemetery on a Screen Wall Memorial that was to be erected behind the Cross of Sacrifice in the same cemetery.
Unmaintainable Graves, United Kingdom: Aylesford (St. Peter) Churchyard, Kent
Approval of the proposed commemoration of five Commonwealth war burials in Aylesford (St. Peter) Churchyard on a small memorial stone, bearing an explanatory inscription, that was to be erected in the same churchyard.
Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Carmarthenshire
Approval of the proposed exhumation and reinterment of a Commonwealth war burial by the Camarthenshire County Council in Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard due to a road-widening scheme.
Baghdad (Right Bank) Indian Forces War Cemetery
Report concerning the proposed removal of Baghdad (Right Bank) Indian Forces War Cemetery to Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery due to a development scheme.
Execution of Documents
Authorisation for the Area Superintendents of the Western Mediterranean Area, Eastern Mediterranean Area, Near East Area, North Africa Area and East Africa Area to sign on behalf of the Commission any documents associated with the discharge of its functions within their respective Areas; authorisation for Stuart Gordon Campbell, Area Superintendent of the Western Mediterranean Area, to complete the purchase of the Commission’s new office premises in Rome.
Other Business
Proposal to remove the wrought iron gates at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery; report on the provision of expenditure for the concentration of 25 First World War graves and 42 Second World War graves in Zambia at Ndola (Kansenji) Cemetery.
ATTENDEES:
Admiral Sir Guy Grantham GCB CBE DSO (Vice-Chairman of the Commission)
Colonel C. F. Black DC (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
Mr F. C. Boyle (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
Mr N V. Farrell (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
Mr J. W. T. Pritchard (Representing the Minister of Public Building and Works)
Sir Robert Black GCMG OBE
Miss Joan Woodgate CBE RRC
Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter Cheshire GBE KCB
Sir John Winnifrith KCB
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)
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 L. J. H. Gibson OBE (Chief Accountant)
Mr J. P. P. Smith |