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From cenotaphs to clock towers, war memorials are a popular feature in our towns and cities.

But did you know many of them are decorated with a range of symbols that each has its own meaning? Bitesize takes a look at some of the motifs that regularly appear on the UK’s 100,000 war memorials, and discover how they help tell the story of the people being remembered.

The different types of war memorials

In the UK, war memorials can take many different forms. They are often created by local communities who want to mark the loss of servicemen, women and even animals from their own city, town, village or workplace.

This has led to a huge range of different designs of war memorials, such as crosses, windows, statues and gardens.

Creating a lasting memory of those killed in conflict became more popular after World War One, when an estimated 880,000 men from the British army died. Most communities experienced losses and wanted to mark the service and sacrifice of ordinary people, many of whom were buried overseas or were never found, and had no grave at home for their family and friends to visit.

Before the 1800s, war memorials were mainly erected to remember leaders or important individuals, events or victories. From the late 19th Century it became more common to see memorials that list the names of individuals of lower ranks in the armed forces.

The most commonly found symbols and features

Unknown soldier

As many soldiers killed in the two World Wars were either buried overseas or lost in battle, the idea of featuring an unknown soldier in memorials became popular in many countries. Because their identity was unknown, they would symbolise every fallen hero and bring comfort to families unable to visit their loved ones grave.

In some cases, an unidentified serviceman was given a state burial - such as the Unknown Warrior whose body was brought from France to be buried at Westminster Abbey on 11 November, 1920. Others, including the Cenotaph in London, UK, feature an empty tomb. In fact, that’s what the word cenotaph means - empty tomb.

Laurel leaves

A surprising thing about laurel leaves is that when you pick them they do not change colour. They remain the same bright, lush green that they were on the tree. For this reason they have been used as a symbol of everlasting life for thousands of years.

Crowns made of laurel leaves were worn as a symbol of victory in ancient Greece and Rome, and were adopted by Christianity to stand for Jesus’ victory over death, sin and a symbol of everlasting life in heaven. On war memorials, they also represent victory in battle.

Eternal light

Whether a real flame that is always kept alight, or the image of a flame captured in stained glass or carved into stone, the eternal light symbolises how those killed in war will never be forgotten.

One of the most famous is at the Arc de Triomphe, a 50m (164ft) tall arch-shaped war memorial in Paris, France, that bears the names of more than 100 battles from the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. The Flame of Remembrance emerges from an opening shaped like the mouth of a cannon, inside a circular shield decorated with 25 swords placed in a star shape. It was lit on 11 November, 1923 and is rekindled every night to pay tribute to the unknown soldier who is buried beneath the memorial and to all those soldiers who have died fighting.

Reversed arms

Look closely at the soldiers carved into war memorials and you’ll notice their arms – another term for weapons - look reversed as they point downwards. This is a sign of respect at times of mourning that is often used in real life too.

One example of this was the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022 when the servicemen and women who took part marched with reverse arms. This also happens during a military funeral, in which military personnel will often reverse arms as a mark of respect for the loss of their fellow serviceman or woman.

Flags

Many monuments feature flags as a symbol of patriotism. When Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the Cenotaph in London, UK, where every year the UK’s National Service of Remembrance takes place, he avoided religious imagery so that it could be a memorial for everyone no matter their background or faith.

To avoid it becoming a national monument, Lutyens wanted the flags to be sculpted. But the government at the time insisted on real flags, so today you will see the flags of Britain’s armed services, which are updated as needed.

Not all war memorials commemorate the dead

The sacrifice of those who lost their lives fighting in World War One is remembered by monuments all over the continent. But looking around a handful of villages in the UK, you may not spot any traditional war memorials.

This is because all the residents who went to fight in World War One from these areas returned home safely. These places became known as ‘thankful villages’ – a name which captures the relief felt by the community. Perhaps an uncomfortable privilege at the time, as families in neighbouring towns mourned their sons.

Thankful villages often have commemorative plaques, rolls of honour or glass windows in their church, symbolising the gratitude of the locals.

Fourteen villages in England and Wales are considered ‘doubly thankful’, as they also didn’t lose anyone fighting in World War Two. There are no thankful villages in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

This article was published in November 2024