Public invited to mark 100 years of St Helens Cenotaph
A special public event will take place later this month (April) to commemorate the centenary of St Helens Cenotaph, marking 100 years of the town's permanent war memorial.
Article date: 2 April 2026
The Cenotaph, located in Victoria Square, was unveiled on 4th April 1926 following a lengthy public fundraising campaign to replace a temporary memorial erected after the First World War. Since then, the obelisk has stood at the heart of St Helens' Remembrance services, bearing the names of local armed forces personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other 20th and 21st century conflicts.
As part of the service - which will include a parade with music from the award‑winning Valley Brass Band; prayers, poems, reflections and a two‑minute silence - a special dedication will be made to St Helens‑born, Private William Arnold, who was killed in action on 10 September 1916 while serving in the First World War.
Private Arnold's name will be formally added to the Cenotaph in recognition of his sacrifice.
Following the service, members of the public are invited to St Helens Town Hall for light refreshments and a St Helens Borough Council Archive Service exhibition that marks 100 years of the cenotaph as well as local military and wartime contributions. Guided tours of St Helens Town Hall will also be available to commemorate the iconic building's 150th anniversary.
The St Helens Cenotaph centenary commemoration will take place on Sunday 26 April, beginning at 1.30pm.