GRAVES OF BRITISH SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 99, 19 January 1918, Page 7

GRAVES OF BRITISH SOLDIERS

EQUALITY FOR OFFICERS AND MEN IMPERIAL WAR GRAVES COMMISSION The first meeting of the Imperial War Graves Commission was held on November 20, Mr. Walter Long being in the chair in the absence of Lord Derby. There were present at the meeting Mr. Long, Secretary for the Colonies; Lieut.-Gcneral Sir H. V. Cox, K.C.8., representing the Secretary of India; Sir A. Mond, First Commissioner of Works; Sir George Perley, K.C31.G., High Commissioner for Canada; Mr. Andrew Fisher, High Commissioner for Australia; Sir Thos. Mackenzie, K.C.M.G, High Commissioner for Now Zealand; Mr. W. P. Sclireiner, C.M.G., High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa; Dr. E. F. S. Green, Newfoundland; Admiral Sir Edmund S. Poo, G.C.V.0., K.C.8.; Lieut.-General Sir C. F. N. Macready, K.C.8., K.C.M.G, Adjutant-General; Brig.-General Fabian Ware, C.M.G.; Sir William Garstin, G.C.M.G.; Mr. Harry Gosling, C.H.; and Mr. Rudyard Kipling. Mr. Walter Long read tho .-..following letter from the Princo of Wales, president of the Commission:— "Dear Lord Derby—l am very sorry that I shall not be able to preside at tlio first meeting of the Imperial War Graves Commission. I had fully intended to como to the meeting, and was particularly anxious to do so, but, unfortunately,' unforeseen military duties at the front have made it impossible. "As I cannot bo present in person I should be glad if you would toll the Commissioners how heartily I wish them success in starting on the important work which has been entrusted to them. You will remember that it was on consideration of a minufe which, as president of the National Committee for the Care of Soldiers' Graves, I addressed to the Prime Minister m March last that tlio Imperial War Conference resolved that au Imperial War Commission should be constituted under Royal Charter. This Commission has now been established, and I am very triad that, as its president, I can continue to show in a practical way my deep interest in the work of caring for the graves of our soldiers and sailors who fall in the common cause ot the Empire. . , "The Commission will, no doubt, soon be considering the question of how the cemeterics, particularly m Franco and Belgium, should be laid out, and what kind of permanent memorials would be most suitable. I fear it is "} cv '^ 9 that there should be considerable difference of opinion among those who> aro asked to advise on these matters of artistic taste. The Comm.ssionersw.il, I am suro, feel with me that it would bo most unseemly that a matter of .tli kind should become in any way the subject of public controversy, and 1, therefore, venture to hopo that the Commission, after taking suchespt? advice as it may tlnnk desirable, will find itself able to arrive at a unanimous only say in conclusion that I am confident that the Commission, iepresentativo as it is of all parts of tho Empire, will set about its task with the single aim of ensuring that tlio rcstinf places of our soldiers and sail ors shall always be reverently cared tor and marked with permanent memorials worthy of the great causo lor which thev (rave their lives. Tho" chairman moved a resolution conveying tho thanks of tho Lonimissfoneis to the Prince, and, in ponding the resolution, Sir George, ! Lerlej saui that he was sure that the .c.ln g up Of this Imperial Commission, chaigod with tho sacred duty of car ins for our sailors' and soldieis iraves, would still further promote Hint closer co-operation and better understanding between the diff-nt parU of the Empire which would be the out come of the present war. Tho lacs that the Prince of Wales was president emphasised that aspcct of tho woik of the Commission.

Thanks to Belgium. Sir Thomas. Mackenzio moved a resolution expressing the Co ™? lssl ? ucr ;; deep appreciation of the noblA and generous action of the Belgian Government which, on terms similar to those "ranted in 1915 by tho French Government, had agreed to provide, a', its own cost, permanent burial places for tho British soldiers who fall on BelSl Mr. S °Rudyard Kipling, in seconding this resolution, said that there was no portion of tho Empire, and lw.rdly any race within the -Empire, ,that was not represented among the vast cloud of witnesses to freedom that lie on tho Flanders front. _ There was no portion of our Empire that would not be moved with gratitude to Be giurn, the creat-hearted country that had taken our dead to her heart for ever. Tho Commissioners agreed to tlio appointment :of Lieutenant-Colonel fair Frederic Kenyon, K.C.B, Direotor of the British Museum, as Adviser to decido between tlie various proposals regarding the architectural treatment and laying out of cemeteries. He was instructed to consult tho representatives of the various churches and religious bodies on any religious questions to tho Commission as soon' as possible. The Commissioners, after very careful consideration, decided unanimously that, in tho erection of memorials on the graves of sailors and soldiers abroad, tho principlo of equality of treatment should bo observed. ihey were strongly of opinion that no ciistinction should be made in this respect between the graves of officers and men, and that equal honour should bo paid to their memory. The view was expressed that regimental headstones would probably be the most acceptable form of individual memorial for tho graves of officers and men of the same regiment. It was felt that every encouragement should bo given to tho relatives of those who had fallen, or associations with which they had been connected, to erect memorials of a more individual and personal nature at homo. The following resolution, moved by Mr. Harry Gosling, and seconded by the' Adjutant-General, was passed unanimously:— . "Tho Commissioners aro of opinion that no distinction should be raado between officers and men lying in the same cemoteries in the form or nature of tho memorial." The Commissioners also passed a resolution of thanks to the Egyptian Government for their generous offer to provide, free of charge,_ the land required for the cemeteries for British and Dominion soldiers buried in Egypt, and to maintain all the graves in perpetuity.