| Content Note | Topics covered:
Mr Godfrey Nelson
Announcement that Mr Godfrey Nelson, horticulturalist, Eastern Mediterranean, Organisation and Audit Officer, had died in service.
Seating Arrangements
Announcement of seating arrangements to soften separation of official and non-official staff.
Apologies for Absence
Mention of apologies of absence from representatives of Canada and India, and from Admiral Sir David Williams, and Professor Bell.
New Zealand Representative and Director Outer Area
Welcome to Air Commodore Neville, representing the New Zealand High Commissioner, and Mr Gordon Cheater, Director of Outer Area, were attending their first meeting.
Office of Australian War Graves
Announcement that Mr Peter Young would be succeeding Hon. Lance Barnard as Director of the Office of Australian War Graves.
Tanzania Agency
Announcement that Mr Salid Ahmed Salim succeeded Mr Edward Sekoine as Prime Minister of Tanzania and the Tanzanian Agency.
Matters arising from the Minutes of the 556th Meeting
Reports of damage and difficult access to cemeteries in the Lebanon, and deferment of works.
Mr Robertson reported that the Office for Australian War Graves and Returned Services League were reluctant to see Surrender Point plaque removed from Labuan Island. They had suggested an Anzac Day ceremony there in 1985.
Report of the 597th Meeting of the Finance Committee
Manual staff numbers had been reduced.
Plan to save one Senior Principal post from external relations, information, secretariat and record functions; Vice Chairman, Mr Gomme, Mr Robertson, Sir Edward Gardner and Sir David Muirhead had met a Trade Union to discuss overseas service remuneration.
Details of a letter sent to non-manual staff, comparison with the Civil Service remuneration package. Sir David Maitland and Lord Wallace commented; the services of Baric Computing Services to be introduced, costs and savings mentioned.
Reburial in Israel of Jewish Brigade War Dead
The reburial in Israel of Jewish Brigade War Dead was discussed, referring to policy regarding exhumation and repatriation.
The Lion Cub of Judea Award
Mention that the Commission had received the Lion Cub Award from the Israeli War Veterans League.
Also mentions Mr Phillip Matthew had accepted an award from the Division for the Commemoration of Fallen Soldiers.
Seventh Meeting of the Commonwealth-German-French Joint Committee
A discussion on historical notices at sites had been held by the Commonwealth-German-French Joint Committee. Mention that the German authorities were to be consulted about notices in Germany.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committees: Appointment of Members
Commonwealth-French Joint Committee:
Monsieur Jean-Pierre Weiss (Directeur du Patrimoine au Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication)
Monsieur Serge Barcellini (Directeur des Statuts et de l'Information Historique au Secretariat d'Etat aux Anciens Combattants)
Commonwealth-German-French Joint Committee:
Monsieur Serge Barcellini
Burials and Commemorations
Mention that 9 war dead in unmaintainable graves in Canada to be commemorated on the Halifax Memorial, 42 South African names were to be added to the Palmietkuil Memorial in Transvaal, and 1 alternative commemoration to be provided at Knysa, Cape Province. 13 war graves in UK to be listed as not within the Commission's control.
Execution of Documents
Mention that documents were executed by or on behalf of the Commission, between 1 March and 21 May 1984.
Tours by Commissioners and Head Office officials
Mention Lady McFarlane had visited the Gardens of Remembrance in Melbourne and Perth, and some Australian cemeteries. Report of Adelaide River and Darwin cemetery maintenance, and meeting with Mr Peter Young.
Sir Arthur Hockaday had been to Gallipoli, laying of wreaths at Helles and Lone Pine Memorials, proposed National Park commented on; the United Nations Emergency Force burials at Gaza maintained on agency basis by the Commission, total world agency income.
Diary
40th anniversary ceremonies in Normandy.
South African Prime Minister laid a foundation stone for Delville Wood Museum, funding for the museum. He also laid a wreath at Rome War Cemetery.
Mention that security firm and police were needed after assaults at Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.
Report and reply to Burmese government, about Rangoon War Cemetery. Additional land at Taukkyan, release of land in Rangoon, costs of reprovision and ability to enter into an agreement. Payments to staff in Libya, mentions British Interests Section of Italian Embassy, gardeners, Tripoli, a part time supervisor, Libyan Ministry of Finance. Polish Memorial in Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya, Polish authorities offered to pay for repairs.
Mr Grady, retiring Director France Area, nominated as honorary citizen of Beaurains.
Attendees:
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough KCB CBE DFC AFC FRSA (Vice-Chairman of the Commission) in the Chair
Mr E Broadbent CB CMG (Representing the Secretary of State for Defence)
Mr R A Gomme (Representing the Minister for Housing and Construction)
Mr R H Robertson (Representing the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia)
Air Commodore P Neville OBE AFC RNZAF (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
Mr L H Evans Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of the Republic of South Africa
Sir Edward Gardner QC MP
Sir Edward Goschen Bt DSO
General Sir Robert Ford GCB CBE
Sir David Muirhead KCMG CVO
Sir Donald Maitland GCMG OBE
Hand written - & Lord Wallace of Coslany
Professor the Baroness MacFarlane of Llandaff
ADVISERS:
Mr Peter Scott BSc FICE, Honorary Consultant Engineer
Professor Sir Peter Shepheard CBE BArch PRIBA MRTPI PPILA, Honorary Artistic Adviser
SECRETARY:
Sir Arthur Hockaday KCB CMG, Director-General
Also in attendance:
Mr P R Matthew, Assistant Secretary, Deputy Director-General
Mr J Saynor JP, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Director-General (Administration)
Mr W J Symons OBE, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Director-General (Operations)
Mr H Westland MIPM, Establishment Officer
Mr P H M Swan, Director of External Relations
Mr N B Osborn ARICS, Director of Works
Mr G C Reddie, Legal Adviser and Solicitor
Mr S G Campbell MC, Director of Information and Secretariat
Mr G A Cheater, Director Outer Area
Mr M S Johnson ACMA, Chief Finance Officer
Mr S A Walker, Secretariat |