They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them  - Lawrence Binyon 1869-1943

Bisley War Memorial stands as testimony to those 24? villagers who sacrificed their lives during the two World Wars, 17 in the Great War and 7 in the Second World War. In 2007 it was cleaned so the engraved names are once again visible. Below are the inscriptions on the cross.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF BISLEY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SERVING THE KING IN THE YEARS OF OUR LORD 1914-1918

"I saw... the souls of them that were slain for the word of GOD.... And white robes were given unto every one of them" Rev 6.11

Great War 1914 - 1918

Major Thomas P Dorington - 1st Dragoons
Major R Ramond-Barker MC - RAF *
Capt. Robert V Kestell-Cornish MC & BAR - Dorset Rgt
Lieut. H Gerald B Drummond MC - 1st Scots Guards
Pte Charles Blackwell - Gloucester Rgt
Pte Albert Clissold - Glos Rgt
Pte James Clarke - Can EF
Trooper William Dunn - 4th Hussars
Pte Arthur Fern - Glos Rgt 
Pte Sidney Hale - Glos Rgt
Pte William Hunt - RW Kent
Pte John Jordan - Royal Marines
Pte Joseph Mansell - Glos Rgt
Cpl Levison TR Randall - Grenadier Guards
Pte Cuthbert R Randall - Glos Rgt
Pte Duncan Ridler-Dutton - Border Rgt
Pte Edward Woodward - Glos Rgt

2nd World War 1939 - 1945

Flt Sgt H Jeffries - RAF
Major JAP Landon - RE
Pte Frederick AH Gardiner - Glos Rgt
Cpl Harry W Bailey - RAF
Lt JC Sadler - RNVR
Pte CR Pye - Para Rgt
Rifleman RJ Bevan - Rifle Bde

On the North Side there is the following inscription -
AND ALSO A THANK OFFERING TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE RETURN HOME OF THEIR 90 COMRADES
"Yea the Lord hath done great things for us already: whereof we rejoice" Ps CXXVI

All the names I can confidently cross-reference with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have links to their details - the ones with no links I cannot find or cannot be certain of. If anyone can confirm more details to allow me to link them please let me know.

* The Name of Richard Raymond-Barker has been mis-spelt on the memorial. His is an interesting story; read it here

I would like to thank Meurig Jones who has provided me with missing details for those listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site under different regiments and also the names of two soldiers from Bisley that are named on the Soldiers Died in the Great War CD but not engraved on the memorial for some reason:-

SDGW not on Bisley memorial

• John Woodward
  44973 Pte 8th bn Royal Berkshire Rgt (formerly 43050 Hampshire Rgt). Born: Kingswinford Staffs. Enlisted: Worcester. Residence: Bisley, Glos. KiA 08-08-1918 France & Flanders
• Charles Alfred Howell
  Z/698 Pte 2nd bn Rifle Brigade. Born: Stroud, Glos. Enlisted: Birmingham. Residence: Bisley, Glos. DoW 27-05-1916 France & Flanders

If there are any errors on this page, please contact me and I will amend them asap. Also, if you can give me any further information on anyone who is named on the memorial please contact me and I will build a separate page for them. I think it is important to put a human story to a stone carved name.