AHEAD of Remembrance Sunday, two war memorials in the Stroud district have been listed at Grade II on the advice of Historic England.

These are:

• Fretherne War Memorial Church of St Mary, Fretherne, Stroud

• West Downs School War Memorial Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Stroud

Built in the aftermath of the First World War (1914-1918), the newly listed memorials in Fretherne and Slimbridge were among tens of thousands that were erected across England in memory of the many people who lost their lives in the conflict, never to return home.

In place of graves, these memorials became focal points for local communities to mourn and honour their dead.

Heritage Minister Helen Whately said: "War memorials have a special place in communities and remind us of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is right that these monuments to the brave people who sadly never returned from the First World War will now be preserved and protected."

Deborah Williams, Historic England’s listing team leader in the West, said: “This Sunday many of us will observe the two minutes’ silence, which shows just how important we still believe it is for us to commemorate those who have died in conflict. It’s this same respect for the fallen that has inspired us to list these memorials in Gloucestershire and help protect them for years to come.”

In 2014, Historic England committed to listing 2,500 war memorials by the end of 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. It achieved this target, listing 2,645, but decided to continue the work as many more cherished memorials worthy of listing status were identified.