As a New Town established in the mid 20th century, Peterlee never had a conventional or traditional war memorial, however, an active branch of the British Legion petitioned for the Town Council to erect some form of memorial to commemorate those of the wider general area who fought in the First World War and all subsequent conflicts. The result was a concrete memorial set within a paved area of St. Cuthbert's Churchyard in 1983. It takes the form of a large St. Cuthbert-style cross of bright white concrete known as snowcrete with a dedication stone at the head which simply reads "Lest We Forget".