| Content Note | Includes: Letter from F.F. Annear, Solicitor, to the IWGC Secretary enquiring on behalf of W.E. Withecombe, brother of the casualty, as to why the private memorial erected by the family and scroll positioned at the foot of the cross by comrades was removed from Corporal Withecombe’s grave, dated 8 May 1928; letter from P.L., for the IWGC Principal Assistant Secretary, to F.F. Annear explaining that the private memorial previously marking Corporal Withecombe’s grave had been inspected and recommended for replacing and was likely retained for a certain period of time before being destroyed, though the Commission was unable to ascertain what happened to the memorial more specifically, dated 9 October 1928; letter from F.F. Annear to the IWGC Principal Assistant Secretary stating that the family of Corporal Withecombe wished to formally protest the removal of the private memorial and planned to put the matter before Basil Peto, MP of Barnstaple, for redress, dated 27 October 1928; letter from Basil Peto to the IWGC Principal Assistant Secretary stating that he intended to raise the unauthorised removal of Corporal Withecombe’s private memorial in parliament, dated 6 November 1928; letter from Arthur Browne, IWGC Principal Assistant Secretary, to Basil Peto explaining that the private memorial marking Corporal Withecombe’s grave was made of inferior material and began deteriorating, which necessitated its replacement, and that the Commission replaced many private memorials to ensure equality of treatment, dated 9 November 1928; copy letter from W.E. Withecombe to F.F. Annear providing a description of the private memorial and materials used to construct it, with attached copy of a letter from the British Red Cross and Order of St. John regarding the erection of the memorial and addition of the inscription, dated 26 June 1918; report by Arthur Browne on meeting with Basil Peto regarding Corporal Withecombe’s grave, dated 14 December 1928; letter from Arthur Browne to W.E. Withecombe explaining that Corporal Withecombe’s private memorial required replacement due to the soil and environmental conditions in and the durability of marble in Egypt, and the inferior workmanship of memorials erected by the Red Cross, dated 19 December 1928; copy letter from W.E. Withecombe to F.F. Annear requesting the re-erection of a memorial and scroll similar to the memorial previously marking Corporal Withecombe’s grave, dated 7 January 1929; letter from Arthur Browne to Basil Peto denying W.E. Withecombe’s request to re-erect the private memorial, as this did not comply with the Commission’s policy regarding the erection of private memorials in their cemeteries, dated 21 February 1929; copy of Parliamentary Question No. 209 in which Basil Peto requested that the Commission add a scroll to Corporal Withecombe’s existing memorial, dated 12 March 1929; various newspaper clippings reporting on the issue of Corporal Withecombe’s grave, dated 10 – 23 March 1929; letter from W.E. Withecombe to the IWGC Vice-Chairman appealing for the re-erection of the private memorial, dated 14 October 1929. |
| Cemetery_Name | ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEME |