About the War Memorials Project
The War Memorials database was compiled by The British Postal Museum & Archive and funded by Royal Mail Group. It aims to record all memorials dedicated to postal workers that were erected by staff in Royal Mail and Post Office buildings.
Searching the War Memorials Database
Access the full list of war memorials by following this link. Alternatively, you could do a simple search of the location you wish to find and the term ‘war memorial’ (e.g. Wolverhampton war memorial).
You can also explore the war memorials on a map of the UK via Royal Mail’s Memorial website.
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 about the 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.
Gradually more information is being added to the database as we get it and we hope to improve photographs when we can.
Acknowledgements
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 and Communications for acting as the contact point within the company.. Most especially, we are grateful to Neil Johannessen who, as project consultant, brought all the information together and to Sarah Jenkins who worked on updating the information and adding the names to make it an accessible resource.
Access to the memorials
Please note that access to each of these memorials may not be possible for operations reasons or health and safety. Many memorials, however, are in public areas and can be visited at any time the office is open. As far as possible details on the level of access has been recorded.
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.
Care of memorials
Royal Mail have responsibility for all the memorials in their care, working with the BPMA a set of guidance notes have been developed to help ensure all the memorials are cleaned carefully and sensitively and not damaged. Each memorial has also been surveyed for its condition and records are kept about them. During 2014 over 30 memorials were professionally conserved, a project funded by Royal Mail Group.
