Bolsterstone War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1920, with additions for later conflicts.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located within the churchyard to the south of the Church of St Mary (Grade II-listed), facing the main road through the village.

It takes the form of a tall, Saxon-style wheel-head cross rising from a three-stepped, square plinth, which surmounts a narrow stone base. The cross and shaft have ornate interlacing knot work designs carved in relief to inset panels to the east face; a raised circular boss is to the centre of the cross-head. The inscriptions and names are in incised lettering to the plinth.

The principal inscription is to the east face of the upper step of the plinth and reads, THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND/ LOVING MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY./ “THE MEN WERE VERY GOOD UNTO US AND WE/ WERE NOT HURT…. THEY WERE A WALL UNTO/ US BOTH BY NIGHT AND DAY.”/ I.SAM.XXV.V.15.16. The names of the 48 fallen, including their regiment and date of death, are recorded on the east face of the middle and lower step of the plinth and the north and south faces of the middle step.

To the west face of the upper-step is the inscription REMEMBER ALL KILLED/ IN LATER CONFLICTS/ AND HERE ESPECIALLY. The step below carries five names; three were casualties from the Second World War and two from later conflicts. The west face of the lower step bears the name of the stonemason, DAVID BREARLEY AND SONS.