War memorials

War memorials are physical structures or objects created to commemorate people whose lives were affected by war or conflict. Their purpose is to ensure that the sacrifices, losses, and experiences of individuals and communities are not forgotten. They can take many forms - from familiar monuments like crosses, obelisks, cenotaphs, statues, and plaques, to less traditional or functional objects such as clocks, shelters, or landscaped spaces. What defines a war memorial is not its shape or material, but its dedication to remembrance. There are more than 700 War Memorials in the borough of Wirral.

War memorials maintained by Wirral Council

Wirral Council has a rolling programme of repairs and maintenance to the memorials used for Remembrance Day services. This ensures respect is given to those who have paid the ultimate price in defence of their country. Wirral Council is responsible for a number of war memorials across the borough:

HMS Conway Mast, Tower Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1DH
Magazine Promenade, Rear of 30 Magazine Brow CH45 1HP (Including a plaque to SPJ McLaughlin)
Jack Potter Memorial, Jack Potter Way, Seacombe
Bidston Village War Memorial, Bidston Road, Bidston, CH43 7QT
Upton War Memorial, Ford Road, Upton, CH49 0TB
Moreton War Memorial, Pasture Road, Moreton, CH46 7TH
Former RAF West Kirby, Saughall Massie Road, CH48 1PQ
West Kirby War Memorial, Grange Old Road, West Kirby, CH48 4ET
Heswall War Memorial, Dee View, Lower Heswall, CH60 0DH
Thornton Hough Memorial, Thornton Hough, CH63 1JJ
Eastham Village Memorial, Stanley Road, Eastham, CH62 0AQ
Bebington War Memorial, The Wiend, Church Road, Bebington, CH63 7RG
Prenton War Memorial, Prenton Lane, Prenton, CH42 8LA
Hamilton Square Cenotaph, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, CH41 5AT (including 18 Regimental Plaques and Low Level Memorials)
HMS Birkenhead, Woodside Ferry Approach, Woodside, Birkenhead, CH41 6DU
HMS Thetis Woodside Promenade, Birkenhead, CH41 1EL
Cockleshell Heroes, Woodside Promenade, Birkenhead, CH41 1EL

Listed War Memorial

Some War Memorials are of national significance and are protected through national listing by Historic England. For more information about listed war memorial please go to Search the List . The following War Memorials are considered Listed Buildings:

For more information about Listed Buildings and Listed Building Consent go to Listed buildings | wirral.gov.uk

Who is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of War Memorials?

War memorials across Wirral are owned and maintained by a range of organisations, community groups, and individuals. Responsibility depends on where the memorial is located and who holds legal ownership.

Wirral Council is responsible only for the war memorials situated within public parks and for the specific memorials listed in our designated maintenance schedule. These memorials are inspected and maintained as part of our regular parks and heritage management duties.

Many other war memorials across the borough are privately owned, located on church grounds, attached to public buildings, or maintained by local community organisations. In these cases, responsibility for upkeep, repairs, and conservation rests with the relevant owner or group.

Community involvement plays an important role in the care of memorials. In some areas, local volunteers, veterans’ groups, and civic societies help to look after memorials, organise cleaning, or raise funds for repairs.

If you are unsure who is responsible for a particular memorial, you can check the War Memorials Online or contact us for guidance on the memorials that fall under the Council’s remit.

Adding a name to a war memorial

Requests for adding names to war memorials in Wirral should be made to the Heritage Team. If you want a relative's name to be added to a war memorial, please supply as many details as possible including name, rank, serial number, regiment and address details of where they lived in Wirral.
We will check with the veteran’s agency, the Ministry of Defence, and if your relative is also named on another local memorial, before adding their name to Hamilton Square. On very rare occasions we have to refuse a name being placed on a memorial for a variety of reasons. In cases such as this we will explain the reasons why. Each request for a name inscription is taken on its individual merits.

Below are the criteria for how the council deals with requests for names of the deceased to be added to a war memorial in Wirral under the custodianship of Wirral Council. Initial requests to add names to war memorials can be received in writing from:

primary – the next of kin or descendants of the individual concerned
secondary – an informed member of the public (either privately or on behalf of an organisation)

Initial actions:

if the request is not from a next of kin, then reasonable efforts should be made to contact the next of kin, which may include the council issuing a media release
confirm the individual was a member of the armed forces (regular or reserve) who was killed on duty while performing functions attributable to the special circumstances and requirements of the armed forces, or as a result of terrorist action, or who died while deployed on designated operations
members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the merchant navy who died in conflict zones while in direct support of the armed forces
a person has died whilst in service in UK armed forces by an incident not defined above
in addition, those who have been discharged from the service but later died as a direct result from the injuries received while serving
confirm that the person was born in Wirral, or lived in the area for some time, by either being born and brought up in Wirral or moving here at a young age prior to joining the armed services
proof of residence will be required
each case will be taken on its individual merits

Wirral Council’s actions on receipt of a request

confirmation of details of death from Ministry of Defence either via the website of the conflict or in writing directly to the relevant department dealing with the branch of the armed services.
contact the relevant branch of the armed service welfare department (particularly if a recent fatality) to visit next of kin and ask permission to place name on memorial
assist the next of kin with any queries on the naming process
notify the Mayors Office to include next of kin in invite list for the following Remembrance Sunday Service at Hamilton Square Cenotaph
arrange for works to be carried out by a stonemason and make payment on completion
write to the next of kin and inform them of the completion of the inscription
dedication to take place in-conjunction with the next Remembrance Sunday service
remain in contact with the next of kin in order to answer any queries they may have in the future

Where to check War Memorials?

Details about war memorials in Wirral can be viewed through War Memorials Online, a national database that records memorial locations, condition, ownership, and conservation needs. The site includes an interactive map where you can explore memorials in your area.

War Memorials Online is supported by War Memorials Trust, which also administers grant funding for repair and conservation. Community groups, custodians, and owners can apply for financial support to help safeguard memorials for future generations.

This resource is regularly updated and provides the most accessible way for residents, volunteers, and researchers to understand the condition and care of local memorials.

Contact the Heritage Team

Email: heritage@wirral.gov.uk
Heritage Team, Mallory, 2 Alice Ker Square, Birkenhead, CH41 2AB

Find out how to organise a Remembrance Sunday Service in Wirral.