Hooge Crater Cemetery

 First World War 1914-1918, war memorial, war cemetery

Hooge Chateau and its surrounding area was the scene of fierce fighting throughout the war, the area was constantly changing hands as both sides battled for supremacy. On 31st October 1914, the staffs of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out by shell fire on the chateau. The chateau continued to be fought over in 1915 and the crater from which the cemetery takes its name was made by a mine blown by the 3rd Division in July 1915. On 30th July 1915 the Germans took the chateau, although it was retaken on August 9th by the 6th Division, fighting continued and the Germans once again took the area on 6th June 1916 only for the 8th Division to recapture it on 31st July 1917. The Germans took the chateau for the last time in April 1918 but it was finally retaken on September 28th by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions.



The cemetery itself was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer in early October 1917; it originally contained just 76 graves (Rows A-D Plot 1) but was increased to its present size after the armistice, when graves from the surrounding area and the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt were concentrated here.



Victoria Cross: Private Patrick Bugden VC, 31st Bn. Australian Infantry, Australian Infantry Force, Plot VIII. C. 5. He was killed in action on 28th September 1918.