West Hartlepool War Memorial West Hartlepool War Memorial or Victory Square War Memorial or Victoria Square Cenotaph is a war memorial in Hartlepool , County Durham , England commemorating those from West Hartlepool who died in World War I and World War II . The war memorial , created in the 1920s , is located on Victoria Road in Hartlepool ' s Victory Square . The square was created for this monument . Victory Square . There was much deliberation about the selection of the site for the memorial or cenotaph . The idea was for the war memorial to be placed in a public square , which would face municipal buildings on the north side and be balanced with public buildings on the south side . Victory Square , a large area in the center of town , was established for that purpose . The mayor of West Hartlepool from 1915 to 1917 , Alderman Charles Macfarlane , introduced the idea of using land already designated for municipal buildings , previously " The Armoury Field " , for a World War I memorial . Later approved at a public meeting , the cost was estimated at £150 , 000 . It was also proposed that housing be created for seniors and the disabled as a related project . Donations came in for Cottage Homes " in connection with the war memorial " , such as that by J . W . Crosby , partner in one of the towns shipping firms , Crosby , Magee & Co . who gave £5 . 000 . World War I Memorial . The high obelisk monument made of grey Aberdeen granite and bronze sits on a pedestal . Bronze bas - relief of laurel wreaths are located at the top of the monument on each side . Another wreath is situated near the bottom with the town coat of arms and the motto " E Mare ex Industria " ( " Industry comes from the Sea " ) . There are also bronze wreaths on the pedestal . The plinth , with cyma - moulding , sits on a wide , five terraced base ; the five steps symbolise the number of years of World War I . There are a total of 1545 names to commemorate those from World War I . The twelve bronze panels honour the 1548 townsmen belonging to 75 different units of the Army , Royal Navy and Royal Air Force . A competition for the memorial design was managed by architect Ernest Newton , RA , who was then President of Royal Institute of British Architects . The winner was George J Coombs of Aberdeen . Coombs ' design was apparently complete by 1921 , when he died , and his plans were carried out by George Bennett Mitchell , Vice - President of the Institute of Scottish Architects . The memorial was built by D . G . Somerville and Company of London and A Fyfe and Son . It was cast at H . H . Martyn and Company . It is classified as a grade II monument . On 11 October 1923 the memorial was to be unveiled by the Earl of Durham ( Frederick Lambton , 4th Earl of Durham ) , but he fell ill and his brother , Brigadier - General Charles Lambton performed the unveiling . It was dedicated by the Bishop of Durham . Inscriptions . The north elevation bears the arms of West Hartlepool within a wreath . Located on the top of the obelisks ' pedestal is the leading inscription " The Great War 1914 – 1919 " followed by the inscription derived from the King George V ' s message to the next of kin of the dead of the British Empire , In grateful remembrance of the men of this town who at their country ' s call left all that was dear to them to hazard their lives that others might live in freedom . Their name liveth for evermore . The southern elevation contains the words " THINE O LORD / IS THE VICTORY " surmounted by a cross . World War II pillars . After the end of World War II , four high white granite pillars were added near the Victory Square obelisk to commemorate those who lost their lives during that war . Each of the four - sided pillars is mounted with a bronze plaque containing the name of the fallen . A tree was planted between each of the pillars . The pillars were unveiled by Father David Coxon of St . Joseph ' s Roman Catholic Church , Reverend Tony Whipp of St . Aidan ' s Church and , representing Seafarers , Ken Cornford . Memorial responsibility . The responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of the memorial resides with the Hartlepool Borough Council ' s Neighborhood Services department . In 2008 restoration work was completed to clean and restore the stonework and plaques , which included resolving staining of the patina .