Mel
I wonder if it is because in 1920 the Parish Council purchased the bowling green on Burnley Road from The Briercliffe Bowling Company for the people of Briercliffe as a Peace Memorial Ground and maybe at that time the second War Memorial was erected. The one at the bowling green certainly looks to be newer than the one at the church.
Roger mentions the Peace Memorial on page 145 of his book A Lancashire Township.
It is interesting as well that there used to be another bowling green up to 1945 that was sited behind the Hare and Hounds Pub,this one was operated by the Haggate Bowling Club,apparently they were quite a rowdy lot, drinking,swearing and gambling although some of the bad language was put down to the Briercliffe Brass Band who practised in a room behind the pub and also to some local lads who used the band room as a gymnasium.
David