Local research - using war memorials

This section explains how war memorials can be a useful aid to starting a research study into your local community's involvement in the First World War. This could link to the QCA unit 'What are we remembering on Remembrance Day?'

It can be used to support the 'Organisation & Communication: why should we remember Remembrance day?' activities that appear in both the Primary and the Secondary packs (Download the primary or the secondary packs, or individual activities).

War memorials

War memorials give a fascinating insight into a local community's involvement in a war. Knowing that the soldiers listed were all from the local area makes them seem more real. They also give a greater understanding of the scale of the sacrifice that each local community made.

This increased understanding is what makes the war memorial so important both within the local community and also as a piece of our heritage and history. War memorials provided a unique opportunity for teachers to open up the history curriculum at a local level.

Many organisations and even some schools have their own war memorials. War memorials commemorating postal workers who have died for their country can also often be found in Royal Mail buildings:

Post Office war memorials

The GPO was, at one time, the country's largest employer. Even today Royal Mail Group Limited employs more than 200,000 people. It sadly follows that large numbers of dedicated postal staff have been among those who have given their lives for their country.

From the Boer War to the Gulf War, many memorials were commissioned by grateful colleagues and staff. They come in a rich variety of forms: stained glass windows, scrolls of honour, large hillside chalk images and more traditional bronze statues.

The BPMA is currently working with Royal Mail on a project to contribute all Post Office memorials to the UK National Inventory of War Memorials.

Activity - the soldiers from your local area
This activity features in both education packs. It guides you through the process of finding out more about a soldier listed on your local war memorial. This involves using the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

Activity - using a Post Office memorial
This activity gives you some information and images about a Post Office war memorial in Liverpool. It then suggests a similar activity to the one above based on the information on the memorial.

Case study - St Luke's war memorial
This page is for general interest. It gives some information about a Primary School in Brighton who have campaigned tirelessly for funding to help restore their unique First World War memorial.