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the Departments concerned, the responsibility for supervision and co-ordination being assumed by the Branch. When the work of collecting records and compiling narratives has been completed, it is proposed that certain sections of the war archives, together with the completed narratives, should be brought together in one repository, where they will be accessible to the war historians. For this reason methods in the processing of records and the compilation of narratives are being made as uniform as possible. During the first year of its existence the Branch has largely confined itself to preparing for the compilation of the official war history ; it has written no history in the strict sense of that term, nor has it assumed any major editorial responsibilities. On 12th February, 1946, however, the Acting Prime Minister announced the appointment of Major-General H. K. Kippenberger, C.8., C.8.E., D.5.0., 8.D., as Editor-in-Chief of the official war history. X. WAR GRAVES Twelve hundred and forty-five notifications of deaths of ex-servicemen and ex-service-women of the Great War were recorded, and temporary crosses were placed on 459 graves. Cremations totalled 62. Construction work involving the erection of head-beams and concrete surrounds in preparation for the emplacement of headstones was carried out in many cemeteries. A number of the new and popular lawn type of cemeteries are nearing completion, while a few are already in use. Three hundred and twenty-nine notifications of deaths in New Zealand of exservicemen and ex-servicewomen of the 1939-45 war were recorded ; 171 temporary crosses and 253 headstones were placed on graves. A further number of deaths which occurred overseas during the 1939-45 war have been notified, and records of these are being maintained. XI. HISTORICAL BRANCH Historical Atlas In spite of the fact that for a time the staff of the Branch was reduced to one person, research on the Atlas has still gone forward, and work on the Inland Exploration map has been virtually completed. In March, 1946, Mr. B. I. M. Burnett took over direction of the Atlas again, and plans were envisaged for the completion of the work. Other Research The difficulty of getting a draughtsman led to long delay in completing for publication the work on the Okiato purchase and the first seat of government, referred to in the last annual report, but this pamphlet is now almost due to appear. A great deal of work has been done on two collections of ecclesiastical brass-rubbings of great historical and aesthetic interest, one of which came into the possession of the Department, and the other of which called for collation and expert examination. Typographical Work This has gone forward as usual, particularly for the Prime Minister's and External Affairs Departments. Other Activities The Branch has, as before, advised and co-ordinated a good deal of miscellaneous activity, ranging from historical research to art; and has worked from time to time in co-operation with the War History Branch.

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