Bisham War Memorial

Bisham War Memorial is a significant structure made of Portland stone, designed in the form of a calvary featuring a canopied figure of the crucified Christ. The memorial stands approximately 1.8 meters high, with a shaft that tapers and is chamfered, becoming almost rounded at the base before transitioning to a narrower, circular section that supports the base.

The most striking aspect of the memorial is the Romanesque figure of Christ, depicted in a triumphant pose rather than as a suffering figure. His head, arms, and torso are strong and well-defined, with notable biceps. His legs are wrapped in elegantly-folding cloth from the waist down. The figure features chunky nails in the hands and feet, with the legs slightly parted and the toes extending over the edge of the ledge. A visible wound is shown in the left side of the abdomen, and a crown of thorns encircles his head.

Above the figure of Christ, the canopy bears the inscription: INRI. The front face of the shaft displays the words: JESU/ MY/ STRENGTH/ AND MY/ REDEEMER. The right side of the shaft commemorates F. S. Kelly, noting his service and sacrifice on November 13, 1916, along with a tribute to his comrades from the local area. The left side of the shaft honors Lieutenant Commander Frederick Septimus Kelly, detailing his service in the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division and his death at the Battle of Beaucourt-sur-Ancre after participating in the Gallipoli Campaign. It also lists seven names of individuals who served in the Second World War.

At the base of the memorial, there is an inscription from Shakespeare’s Henry V that reads: HERE WAS/ A ROYAL FELLOWSHIP/ OF DEATH.