About the War Memorials Project

The War Memorials project was funded by Royal Mail and was run and managed by the BPMA. The funding paid for a project consultant to design and build a database and to co-ordinate and enter the information onto it.

How the project started

The project began because it was known that many memorials existed in Royal Mail buildings but the exact figure was not known. Royal Mail recognised its duty to care for these memorials and wanted to ensure they were safeguarded.

Since 1989, the UK National Inventory of War Memorials has been working to record all memorials in the UK. It did not, however, have complete data for Royal Mail sites. This project has now also been able to help bring this national survey up to date.

Collecting information on war memorials

Information about location of memorials was taken from building surveys undertaken on behalf of Royal Mail’s estates department. This was supplemented by Royal Mail staff’s fantastic response to our appeals.

Over 350 members of Royal Mail, Parcel Force and Post Office staff contacted the BPMA and passed on details of memorials. In addition numerous volunteers, many themselves members of Royal Mail staff helped by noting down the extra information about each memorial and taking photographs.

What if a building containing a memorial is closed or moved?

As part of the project, a small, discreet sign was fixed near to each memorial giving instructions as to action required if the memorial needed to be moved. If a building us to be closed or moved, the memorial is always relocated. It is moved with care and sensitivity and a suitable new location found in the local area. Wherever possible, memorials are located where they can be most easily seen by both staff and the public. Often, as part of the move, the memorial is cleaned and restored before being installed in its new home.

Thank Yous

We are very grateful to all the staff and volunteers who have helped to gather data. We would also like to thank Royal Mail Group Property for acting as the contact point within the company, and for managing the fixing of each of the signs. Our thanks go also to the Royal Mail communications departments for helping to publicise the project. Most especially, we are grateful to Neil Johannessen who, as project consultant, brought all the information together.