PM Transcripts

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RT. V97
HON. HAROLD HOLT, M, P6 IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVESE 16th MAY, 1967
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF COMONW\ EALTH WVAR
GRAVES COMMISSION
I wish to remind Honorable Members that 1967 marks the
Fiftieth Anniversary of the establishment of the Commonwealth W/ ar Graves
Commission which originally was 1known as the Imperial War Graves
Commission. In a few days' time, Australia will be represented by our High
1Commissioner in London at a special Fiftieth Anniversary meeting of the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission presided over by His Royal Highness
the Duke of Gloucester. In more than 23, 700 burial places throughout the world are the
graves of nearly one and three quarter million, men and women, of
the former Imperial Forces who died in the two World W~ ars. Of these,
more than 100., DCwere P ustralians.
All who have visited any of the war cemeteries must have been
moved by their beauty and by the care with which they are tended. The
efforts of many are involved, and to them I extend our thanks to the
architects, engineers, builders and horticulturalists who have created these
places and to the researchers who so far as is humanly practicable, have
made sure that each man and woman who died in the cause of freedom in
either of the two WAorld W, 7ars has been honoured by name. I am sure it is
a matter of pride to us all that our honoured dead are cared for in this way.
The Commission itself is a " Commonwealth" body formed by
the member countries of the Commonwealth to honour their dead of the
two World W1a. rs. Each war cemetery, each memorial, each individual
grave is a tribute paid jointly by a united C-. ommonwealth of Nations.
VWe rake pride in the fact that Australia is an active partner in this organisation.
In this year of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the establishment of
the Commission, we place on record our very sincere appreciation of the
work that has been carried out, and still continues.
I have no doubt that this statement carries the support of all
Members of the House.
I propose to send the President of the C"' ommonwealth W/ ar Graves
Commission a message in the following terms
" Cn behalf of the Parliament and people of Australia
I would likL-e to express to the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission our sincere appreciation for the manner in which
it is carrying out the task of commemorating and honouring the
dead of the two VWorld Wars and to assure you of our continuing
support and confidence in the future. On this Fiftieth Anniversary,
the Commission can look back with a true sense of pride at its
achievements over the years."