War Memorials

(asked on 20th January 2026) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that military memorials are kept in good condition.


Answered by
Louise Sandher-Jones Portrait
Louise Sandher-Jones
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This question was answered on 28th January 2026

Responsibility for military memorials is split between several organisations, depending on the type and location of the memorial.

Across the globe, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains 23,000 war memorials and war cemeteries commemorating 1.7 million commonwealth casualties who died during the First and Second World Wars. During the Financial Year 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence contributed £56.3 million Grant in Aid funding to support this core commemoration to a high standard, sometimes in inhospitable locations.

Additionally, there are many military memorials, both within the UK and abroad, which have been established, and are owned by institutions such as local authorities, charities, churches, museums, schools, businesses and private individuals. The care and maintenance of such memorials are the sole responsibility of the owner.

Reticulating Splines