War Memorial

The war memorial was erected in 1921 in Bisley. Constructed from Cotswold stone, it has a simple square plan and is enclosed by iron railings. The memorial comprises a Celtic wheel-head cross atop a tall, tapering shaft, which sits on a square plinth raised onto three steps. The south (front) face of the plinth bears the inscription 'TO THE GLORY OF / GOD / AND TO THE MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF BILSEY / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / SERVING THE KING / IN THE YEARS OF OUR LORD / 1914-18', followed by a biblical quotation from Revelation VI. 9.11. The west and east sides of the plinth are inscribed with the names of the men who lost their lives; the north face carries the inscription 'AND ALSO A THANK TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE RETURN HOME OF THEIR 90 COMRADES’, alongside another biblical reference from Psalm CXXXVI. A roll of honour listing the men who died during the Second World War is inscribed on the four sides of the upper step of the base, with the dates '1939 / 1945' also displayed on the front (south) face. The memorial's historic interest lies in its representation of the impact of tragic world events on the local community, serving as a testament to the parish’s war dead and demonstrating strong historic and cultural significance. It also holds group value with several other listed buildings nearby.