The government has pledged to spend £500,000 on creating a Commonwealth War Memorial project at the White Cliffs of Dover.

The memorial would include an inscription of the 1.7 million men and women recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission register.

They include servicemen and women, merchant navy personnel and civilians who gave their lives during the First World War and Second World War.

This was announced by the chancellor George Osborne in the Budget 2016 on Wednesday.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: “Following the case I made to George Osborne, it’s great to see the support for a Commonwealth War Memorial at Dover.”

The memorial has been inspired by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the US capital Washington DC.

It was proposed back in 2012 by London-based architects Paula Craft and John Pegg.

Plans include the National War Museum at the Drop Redoubt and a parade area for services, a shop and toilet facilities.

The memorial itself would consist of 12 white granite walls representing each year of hostilities of both world wars and bearing all 1.7 million names of those who died defending Britain, according to the date of their sacrifice, with no deference to rank or nationality.

Speaking to the Mercury at the time, architect John Pegg said other memorials leave a gap that they are determined to fill.

He said: “The memorial can only boost Dover visitor numbers through family pilgrimages, school visits and ceremonial and commemorative events, as well as giving good reason for current numbers to dwell longer in the area.”