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'Britain Neglecting Its War Memorials'
Many of Britain's war memorials are suffering from the effects of erosion, with the names on them slowly disappearing.
Campaigners say we, as a nation, should be taking more care of our war memorials.
Many were put up following local fund-raising campaigns. No one knows how many, and no one knows where they all are.
The Cenotaph in London is the most famous of Britain's war memorials, but many of the estimated 100,000 across the country are simple plaques on the walls of factories and offices.
MP Shona McIsaac wants the Government to take over responsibility for them all.
"What I would like to achieve is to have restored those names on war memorials that have faded away. On Remembrance Day we say we shall remember them.
"If those names have faded, how can we remember them? I think that's terribly sad."
World War II veteran Raymond Ashby, helping with the Poppy Appeal, says war memorials are as important now as they ever were.
"Those people on those war memorials paid the ultimate price - for what we have today.
"The only way that you can repay them is to put their name on war memorials where, hopefully, people will look and respect them."
In Southampton the names on the Cenotaph have faded with time - they are going to be inscribed on a new wall.
Campaigners say it is time for local authorities to keep a register of all their war memorials - an idea already adopted in London.
In five years' time, war memorials will be the focus of ceremonies to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War - when people will want to read the names written on them.
© 2009 Sky News, all rights reserved.
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