Maintaining and funding war memorials

There are estimated to be over 100,000 war memorials in the UK, the majority being small affairs funded by local people for local people.

The cost of erecting memorials and associated projects is not usually met from public funds but from private donations or public subscription. Responsibility for the design of a memorial, its maintenance, protection and decision as to what it commemorates rests with the owner, or the organisation in which ownership is vested.

In 2000, the government financially supported the construction of the Armed Forces Memorial, inscribed with the names of all those who have died while on duty since 1948. The government also contributed to the costs of the opening ceremony of the Bomber Command memorial in London in 2012.

In 2014, the government announced a £5 million fund to conserve and protect war memorials as part of the centenary of the First World War. Part of this funding included the creation of a new website dedicated to providing information on UK war memorials.

More recently, the Conservative government announced funding for a Muslim memorial to honour Muslims who died fighting in the two world wars and awarded a grant to fund a memorial to honour those serving in the armed forces from the LGBT community.

Members of Parliament may receive correspondence from constituents asking about the maintenance of memorials in their area or abroad. Constituents may also seek advice as to funding and building a new memorial. This note collates some useful resources for Members’ staff on war memorials.