A Whilst many memorials are beautifully maintained by parish councils, Royal British Legion branches and other organisations, often no one person or body is legally responsible for their upkeep. When most memorials were erected, after the First World War, this problem was rarely considered and resources tended to be directed into fund-raising and construction rather than any provision for long term upkeep. In 1923, the War Memorials (Local Authorities' Powers) Act permitted local authorities to use public money for the maintenance of memorials, but there was no obligation to do this.