HRH The Princess Royal remembers Scottish fallen in new CWGC cemetery in France

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal paid her respects as dozens of soldiers killed during World War One, many from Scottish regiments, were commemorated at a specially-built cemetery extension in northern France.

The event, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) was held at the newly built CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension on Thursday 26 September. It is only the second time the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has built a new cemetery since the end of World War Two. 

HRH The Princess Royal, President of the CWGC, formally inaugurated the new cemetery as she honoured the soldiers who were laid to rest.

The new cemetery was built after nearby construction works discovered a large number of World War One remains The CWGC wanted to ensure that, on reburial, the fallen would remain side by side.

The JCCC identification process established 48 separate sets of remains from the site. Although many Scottish Regimental artefacts were found, individual casualties could not be accurately identified by name.

With so many remains recovered, it was impossible for the CWGC to bury them all in one public ceremony, so 46 were buried privately at Loos British Cemetery Extension earlier this summer.

Today, one unknown soldier of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) and a second unknown Scottish soldier were laid to rest by serving soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The service, which included a firing party and a piper, commemorated all 48.

Director General of the CWGC, Claire Horton CBE, said:
"We are truly grateful and deeply honoured to welcome our President, The Princess Royal, to inaugurate our new cemetery and pay her respects to the brave men who have now been laid to rest here.

"This occasion marks a significant milestone for the Commission, reflecting our unwavering commitment to honouring the sacrifices made by those who served. It also emphasises thar our vital work to care for the fallen all around the world is very much ongoing.

"As we gather here today, we reaffirm our promise to maintain the graves of those interred in Loos British Cemetery Extension, and of their comrades, ensuring that their legacy will endure in perpetuity."

Stephan Naji,  Head of CWGC's Recovery Unit said:
"It's always a privilege to attend a reburial ceremony and close a recovery case. Having the opportunity to see the planning and construction of a whole new cemetery is a testament that our effort to recover our Fallen continues successfully. It's an honour to participate in this continuous effort to recover and commemorate the casualties who fell in France.

"Our team has been working for years to monitor and evaluate how our recoveries have been increasing steadily and how we should manage this trend. Loos BCE was the result of this thorough and meticulous evaluation of our cemeteries capability to receive new burials compared to our rate of recovery and new construction projects in the area.

"With an average rate of recoveries around 60 to 80 every year since the Lens hospital project, Loos BCE should accommodate our needs for a number of years."

Although none could be identified by name, JCCC continues its efforts to identify several other casualties recovered at the same location, with the aim of burying them at the CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension.

JCCC and CWGC also attempt to find any living relatives when the remains of British personnel from historic conflicts are recovered. If identified, relatives are invited to the re-interment and memorial service.

The CWGC is a world leader in commemoration which cares for war graves at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries.

After the service, HRH The Princess Royal met with school children and community representatives at Loos-en-Gohelle’s City Hall.