Locre (Loker) Churchyard

It was not until 25 April 1918 that Loker (Locre in French) fell into German hands during the so-called 'Kaiserschlacht' (Kaiser's Battle). The Kemmelberg and the surrounding hills were of great strategic importance. In the spring of 1918 the Germans gambled everything on a final offensive, designed to win the war before the huge American Army could be deployed in the field from the summer onwards. But the Germans had neither sufficient men nor materials. Their attack was a desperate gamble - and it failed.

On 25 April the French recaptured the village in a counter-attack. Four days later the Germans were back again, only to be driven out next day by yet another French counter-attack. In May, fierce fighting continued around the convent (hospice). It was not until July that the village was finally cleared by the Allies.

At the back of the Sint-Petrus (St. Peter's) Churchyard there are two plots of British graves, one on each side of the church. British aid posts and fighting units made use of the churchyard between 1914 and1917, and it now contains 215 burials. These include the graves of three 'deserters', who were executed near here in February 1915.

The village was fairly calm throughout most of the war, but was reduced to ruins during the 1918 fighting.

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