LOCRE CHURCHYARD

Heuvelland

West-Vlaanderen

Belgium

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: Loker (formerly Locre) Churchyard is located 11.5 Kms south-west of Ieper town centre on the Dikkebusseweg (N375). From Ieper town centre the Dikkebusseweg is reached via Elverdingsestraat, straight over a roundabout onto J.Capronstraat (for 30 metres), then left along M.Fochlaan. Immediately after the train station, the first right hand turning is the Dikkebusseweg. On passing through the village of Dikkebus the road continues for 6 kilometres to the village of Loker. The church and churchyard are located at the side of the road in the village of Loker itself.

Locre (now Loker) was in Allied hands during the greater part of the war, and field ambulances were stationed in the Convent of St. Antoine. The village changed hands several times between 25 and 30 April 1918, when it was recaptured by the French. The hospice, or convent, was the scene of severe fighting on 20 May, but was not retaken until first week in July. Loker Churchyard was used by field ambulances and fighting units from December 1914 to June 1917, and it contains two Commonwealth plots. One grave was brought in after the Armistice from LOCRE FRENCH CEMETERY No.4. The churchyard contains 215 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.

Shot at Dawn: Private J. Byers of the 1st Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers executed for desertion 06/02/1915, Plot 1. A. 1

Shot at Dawn: Private A. Evans of the 1st Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers, executed for desertion, 06/02/1915. Plot 1. A. 2.

Shot at Dawn: Private G. E. Collins of the 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment, executed for desertion 15/02/1915, Plot 1. B. 1.

The mass pardon of 306 British Empire soldiers executed for certain offences during the Great War was enacted in section 359 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, which came into effect on royal assent on 8 November 2006.

CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 184; Canada 31; Total Burials: 215