§ 37. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary of State for War what action has been taken for the preservation and upkeep of British soldiers' graves in Austria and Italy?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe work of the Imperial War Graves Commission in Italy is well advanced, all the cemeteries having been taken over for permanent construction. There are in Italy and the Austrian borderland 94 cemeteries containing British graves, of which 17 are sufficiently large to require architectural treatment. Of these 17, contracts have been placed for the construction of 10, and work has already commenced in 5; while the erection of memorials over single graves in other cemeteries has also been started. Seventy-five out of the 94 cemeteries have received horticultural treatment. There are a few graves of prisoners of war in Austria. An officer of the Directorate of Graves Registration and Inquiries visited Vienna some time ago and arranged to be supplied with lists. These lists have now been received and are believed to be fairly accurate. Owing to conditions in Austria, no other steps have been taken up to the moment, but I hope that it will be possible to send an officer to make further inquiries shortly. As far as our information goes, the graves are well cared for.
§ 38. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary of State for War what action has been taken for the preservation and upkeep of British soldiers' graves in Greece and Turkey?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Imperial War Graves Commission expect shortly to take over all cemeteries in Macedonia for permanent construction. The architects' designs have been approved, and the Greek Government are being consulted on the form of contract locally applicable. A scheme is under consideration for the concentration and treatment of graves scattered throughout the islands of the Ægean, and meanwhile the graves are being well cared for by the islanders. A unit of the Directorate of the Graves Registration and Inquiries is in Turkey (Asia Minor), registering and identifying graves and selecting sites for cemeteries.