Major Oliver 'Trooper Bluegum' Hogue

Ranks Held Captain, Major, Second Lieutenant
Birth Date 1880-04-29
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Death Date 1919-03-03
Death Place United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Final Rank Major
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment
  • 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment
  • 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment
  • 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Gazettes Biographical information The Oxford companion to Australian military history in 1995
Description

Oliver Hogue was born in Sydney on 29 April 1880. Despite growing up in the city, his ability at sports and his skill as a horseman led Hogue to consider himself a bushman and, after completing school, he travelled thousands of miles by bicycle along Australia's east coast. He worked as a commercial traveler before joining the Sydney Morning Herald in 1907 as a journalist. After the outbreak of the First World War Hogue tried unsuccessfully to become Australia's official war correspondent and instead enlisted as a trooper with the 6th Light Horse Regiment. He departed Sydney aboard HMAT Suevic on 21 December 1914.

Hogue served on Gallipoli for five months before being evacuated to England with enteric fever. He returned to his unit in the Sinai region in early 1916. Hogue developed a reputation as a loyal and enthusiastic officer unafraid of front-line service, and he was a regular writer to both his family and his former employer. Writing under the pseudonym "Trooper Bluegum", his contributions to the Sydney Morning Herald were published as books back in Australia. After participating in the battle of Romani in August 1916 he was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) and was involved in the battles of Magdhaba, Rafa, and Gaza in 1917. In letters home Hogue frequently referred to the fearlessness and achievements of the Australian troops, especially at Romani. He was also critical of the British press coverage of the war, which largely overlooked the accomplishments of the ICC and Australian troops in general.

In July 1918 Hogue was transferred to the 14th Light Horse Regiment and participated in the advance through the Jordan Valley. He was also promoted to major at this time. After reaching Damascus, and with the Turkish surrender in October, Hogue took leave to England in January 1919. Having survived the entirety of the First World War he soon after contracted influenza and died in London on 3 March 1919.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 29 April 1880
Other 1907 Employed with the Sydney Morning Herald.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 16 September 1914 Enlisted with in the Army.
Date of enlistment 16 September 1914
Other 16 September 1914 Posted to the 6th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Light Horse Brigade.
Date commissioned 1914-11 Promoted to 2nd lieutenant.
Date of embarkation 21 December 1914 Embarked for Eygpt from Sydney.
Date promoted 1915-05 Promoted to lieutenant.
Other 1915-05 The 2nd Light Horse Brigade landed at Gallipoli and was attached to the 1st Australian Division.
Other 1915-10 Evacuated from Gallipoli to England with enteric fever.
Other 1916 Hogue returned to the 6th Light Horse Regiment, now stationed in Sinai, Egypt.
Other units 01 November 1916 Transferred to the 4th Camel Regiment, Imperial Camel Corps.
Other units 03 February 1917 The 4th Camel Regiment was broken up to form the 17th and 18th Company, 4th Anzac Battalion, Camel Corps. Hogue became a lieutenant in the 18th Company, 4th Anzac Battalion, Camel Corps.
Date promoted 1917-07 Appointed captain and took command of the 3rd Company, 1st ANZAC Battalion, Camel Corps.
Date of recommendation honour or award 1918
Other units 25 July 1918 On the disbandment of the Camel Corps Hogue was promoted to temporary major and officer commanding A squadron, 14th Light Horse Brigade.
Date of death 03 March 1919 Died of influenza whilst on leave in London and was buried at Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey.