The Story of War Memorials

In Britain, First World War memorials are the most prominent and also the most studied sites of war commemoration (Berg, 1991; Winter, 1995; King, 1998; Moriarty, 1999; Connelly, 2002; Marshall, 2004; Todman, 2005, Abousnnouga and Machin, 2011a). These memorials occupy the focal point of almost every village, town and city across the UK. Their prominence in the public landscape defines their impact on identity politics. Memorials inscribe in stone political choices to ‘name’ wars, pay tribute to the fallen soldiers and explain the reason for public remembrance. In this regard, memorials represent the modes ‘in which identities are constructed and reproduced in different historical contexts’ (Bell, 2003, p. 69). The unveiling of the story of war memorials can help us to trace changes in identity politics and in the relationship between the military, the state and civil society.