Locre Hospice Cemetery

Locre Hospice Cemetery is a small war cemetery located about 10.5 kilometres south-west of Ieper (Ypres) town centre, along Godtschalckstraat, a road leading off the Dikkebusseweg (N375), within the present-day village of Loker in West Flanders, Belgium. The site is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and commemorates soldiers who died during both World Wars.

What is the history behind this cemetery?

Loker (formerly known as Locre) remained in Allied hands for most of the First World War. Field ambulances were stationed at the Convent of St. Antoine, treating casualties from the fighting around nearby Mont Kemmel. The cemetery itself was begun in June 1917, established by field ambulance units and fighting troops, and continued to be used for burials until April 1918.

The situation changed dramatically in the spring of 1918. Between 25 and 30 April, the village changed hands several times before finally being recaptured by French forces. The hospice, or convent, became the scene of intense fighting on 20 May, and it was not retaken for good until the first week of July that year. After the Armistice, four graves were transferred into the cemetery from the garden of the Hospice, which was subsequently rebuilt.

Who is buried or commemorated here?

The cemetery today contains 244 Commonwealth burials and commemorations from the First World War. Twelve of these graves belong to unidentified soldiers, and ten graves destroyed by shellfire are now marked by special memorials, honouring men known to be buried in the cemetery whose exact grave location was lost.

Beyond the Great War burials, the site also holds 14 graves from the Second World War, dating from late May 1940, during the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force towards Dunkirk ahead of the advancing German army. Two German soldiers are also buried within the cemetery grounds.

Which notable grave can visitors find here?

The best-known grave at the cemetery belongs to Major William Hoey Kearney (Willie) Redmond, an Irish Member of Parliament for Wexford. Redmond was mortally wounded during the Battle of Messines and was originally buried in the Convent garden of the Locre hospice. His widow later erected a Celtic cross to mark his grave, which now stands about 100 metres along a grass track on the northern side of the cemetery.

How can visitors reach the site?

A short, roughly 20-metre grassed access path leads to the cemetery. Wheelchair access is possible, though with some difficulty due to the nature of the ground.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Locre Hospice Cemetery located? The cemetery lies on Godtschalckstraat in Loker, about 10.5 km south-west of Ieper (Ypres), in the province of West Flanders, Belgium.

How many people are buried at this cemetery? A total of 260 people are buried here, comprising 244 First World War burials and commemorations plus 14 Second World War graves.

Is this site connected to any notable historical figure? Yes — Major Willie Redmond, an Irish MP, was originally buried here, and his grave is marked by a Celtic cross erected by his widow.

Who maintains Locre Hospice Cemetery today? The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the organisation responsible for the care of Commonwealth war graves worldwide.