EQUALITY IN DEATH

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 14, 16 January 1918, Page 7

EQUALITY IN DEATH

THE GRAVES OF WAR

PRINCE OF WALES'S ADVICE.

((raou our own correspondent.)

LONDON, 30th November.

When the Imperial War Graves Commission met for the first time last week, 3 letter was read from, the President of the Commission (the Prince of Wales, who is in Italy), in which His Royal Highness said :

"This Commission has now been established, and I am very glad 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 of the Empire. The Commission will no doubt soon be considering the question of how the cemeteries, particularly in France and Belgium, should' bo laid out, and what kind of permanent memorials would be most suitable. I fear it is inevitable that there Bhould be considerable differences of opinion among those who are asked to advise on. these matters of artistic taste. The Commissioners will, I am sure, feel with me that it would be most unseemly that a. matter of this kind should become in any way the subject of public controversy, and I therefore venture to hope that the.Commission, after taking such expert advice as it may think desirable, will find itself able to arrive at a unanimous decision. "I can only say, in conclusion, that I am confident that the Commission, representative as it is of all parts of the Empire, will set about its task witli the single aim of ensuring that the restingplaces of our soldiers and sailors shall always be reverently'cared for and marked with, permanent memorials worthy of the great causo for which they gave their lives." ** The members present were: Mr. Long (Secretary for the Colonies), Lt.-Gen. Si? H. V. Cox, K.C.B. (representing the Secretary for India), Sir A. Mond (First Commissioner of Works), Sir (5. Perley, K.C.M.G. (Hiffh Commissioner for Canade), Mr. A. Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia), Sir Thomas Mackenzie, X C.M.G. (High Commissioner for New Zealand), Mr. W. P. Schreiner, C.M.G. (High Commissioner for South Africa), Dr K. F. S. Green (Newfoundland), Admiral Sir E. S. Poe, G.C.V.0., X.C.8., Lt.-Gen. Sir C. F. N. Maeready, X.C.8., K.C.M.G., Adj.-Gen., Brig.-Gen. Fabian Ware, C.M.G., Sir William Garstin, G.C.M.G., Mr. H. Gosling, and Mr. Rudyard Kipling. „ - Sir T. Mackenzie moved a motion expressing the Commissioners' deep appreciation of the noble and generous action of the Belgian Government, which, on terms similar to those granted in 1915 by the French Government, had agreed to provide at its own cost permanent burial places for the British soldiers who fall on Belgian soil. Iri^econding, Mr. Kudyard Kipling said that' there was no portion of the Empire and hardly any race within theEmpire that was not represented among the vast cloud of witnesses to freedom that lie on the Flanders front; and there was no portion of our Empire that would not be moved with gratitude to Belgium, the great-hearted country that had taken our dead to her breast for ever.

The Commissioners agreed to the appointment of Lt.-Col. Sir F. Kenyon, X.C.8., Director of the British Museum, as adviser to decide between the various proposals' as to the architectural treatment and laying out of cemeteries. He was instructed to consult the representatives of the various Churches and religious bodies on any religious questions involved, and to report his recommendations to the Commission as soon as possible. The Commissioners, after very careful consideration, decided unanimously that in tlie erection of memorials an the graves of Bailors and soldiers abroad the principle of equality of treatment should be observed. They were strongly of opinion that no distinction should be made in this respect between the graves of officers and men, and that, as would have been undoubtedly the wish of all those who had given their lives for the common cause, equal honour should be paid to their memory. The view was expressed that regimental headstones would probably be the most acceptable form of individual memorial for the graves of officers,, and men of the same regiment buried" on foreign soil. It was felt that every encouragement should be given to the 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 home. ■ The following motion was moved by Mr. H. Gosling, and seconded by the Adjutant-General:—"The Commissioners are of opinion that no distinction should be made between officers and men lying in the same cemeteries in the form or nature of the memorial.", It was passed unanimously. ' . The Commissioners passed a motion 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. The Imperial Commission has appointed Brig.-Gen. Fabian Ware, C.M.G., Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries, to be vice-chairman. Tho Prince of Wales, as president, has appointed Lt.-Col. G. H. Stobart, D.5.0., to be acting-secretary to the Commission, and Mr. J. E. Talbot to be acting-principal assistant secretary.