LONDON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 2,500 war memorials across England have been officially listed over the past four years as historic structures to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
Historic England said Monday that 11 of the memorials were nominated by children through the Heritage Schools program as well as 50 nominated by university students.
One memorial at Horley in Surrey commemorates one of the oldest men to fight in the war who, aged 67, was determined to serve alongside his four sons. His sons all survived but their dad died two months after going to war.
Also included is a rocky outcrop above a farm in Cumbria where conscientious objectors campaigned against the war.
Before the project began Historic England said there were more traditional red telephone boxes listed than war memorials.
The newly listed war memorial include 202 in London, 520 in southwest England, 391 in the southeast and hundreds more in the Midlands and northern England.
A memorial to the children of Upper North Street School in Poplar, London, remembers 18 young children killed and many more injured when London's East End was bombed by one of Germany's new long-distance Gotha aeroplanes in the first daylight air raid of the war. School caretaker, Benjamin Batt, found the remains of his son Alfie amongst the devastation. So haunted by the trauma of the day, Batt took his own life five months later.
Heritage Minister Michael Ellis said: "The First World War was a period of unprecedented loss for families across the country and after the Armistice communities sought to commemorate their fathers, sons, and brothers who sadly never returned. It is right that 100 years on we have protected these poignant memorials and continue to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice."
Historic England CEO Duncan Wilson, said: "The stories behind these memorials are very moving and each one tells us how devastating the First World War was for communities across the country. Over a million Britons lost their lives during the war and it's important that their sacrifice and struggle is not forgotten."
