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 range of building projects were carried out – including the Saint Stephen's Road bridge – to give this town area a distinct municipal identity; the war memorial was part of these efforts. Designed by Bournemouth's deputy architect Albert Edward Shervey, it featured two lions (one resting, the other alert and fierce) inspired by Antonio Cavona's lions guarding Pope Clement XIII's tomb.