Directions

From Ieper take the Menin road. After four kilometres the cemetery is on your right.

About the cemetery

The mine crater at Hooge was blown by the British during fierce fighting here in 1914-15. The water-filled crater can still be seen in the grounds of the chateau across the road, which also houses an excellent small museum. For much of the early part of the war the front line ran through this area, but it moved further east soon after the first Australians arrived here in late 1916. The cemetery was formed in October 1917 and originally contained 76 graves. It was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the surrounding area and today contains 5922 burials. Most of the Australians who lie here were killed in the Battle of Polygon Wood (September 26th-29th 1917). The most notable feature of this cemetery is a stylised 'crater' landscaped near the entrance.

Total burials: 5922

Australian burials: 513 (178 unidentified)

Notable Australians buried in this cemetery

• Private Patrick Bugden VC, 31st Battalion, died 28/09/1917, age 20. 'Paddy' Bugden was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during several days of fighting at Polygon Wood from September 26th-28th 1917. On several occasions he led small parties to capture pillboxes that were holding up the advance and five times he rescued wounded comrades under heavy fire. Bugden also single-handedly rescued a corporal who had been captured by three Germans, shooting one and bayoneting the other two. He was killed by shellfire on the 28th. Grave VIII. C. 5.