Various building works were carried out – such as the Saint Stephen's Road bridge – to stamp the municipal identity on this area of the town; the war memorial was one of them. It was designed by Bournemouth's deputy architect Albert Edward Shervey, who copied the two lions (one sleeping, the other awake and roaring) from Antonio Cavona's lions which guarded the tomb of Pope Clement XIII.
A series of building projects were implemented – including the Saint Stephen's Road bridge – to define this town area's municipal character; the war memorial was one of these undertakings. Designed by Bournemouth's deputy architect Albert Edward Shervey, it showcased two lions (one resting, the other alert and fierce) inspired by Antonio Cavona's lions guarding Pope Clement XIII's tomb.