Impression sketch
of Oliver Hogue aka Trooper Bluegum,
- by Jamie. An
original image that can be seen at: <http://mosman1914-1918.net/project/blog/oliver-hogue-aka-trooper-bluegum-1880-1919>
[Accessed: 22 February 2016]
To download an ebook
version of 'Trooper Bluegum at the Dardanelles' by Oliver Hogue book see: <http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46097>
Born Sydney
Australia, Oliver Hogue
Proved he had sporting ability,
To perfect his skill as horseman -
When school ended,
young Oliver
Believed himself
a born Bushman.
With youth and
time Oliver setout
To cycle East
coast Australia -
To cover the countless
miles to Cairns.
Suiting the
outdoors, his career
Involved him as
commercial traveler.
Back in Sydney
1907, Oliver Hogue
Turned his talent
to journalism,
With the Sydney
Morning Herald.
To believe in
1914 he could become
The country’s
official war correspondent.
While denied this
route he took
Another path as a
trooper with
6th Light Horse
Regiment - to leave
For the front 21
December 1914,
On SS Suevic of
the white Star Line.
By then commissioned
as Second
Lieutenant, with
a destination
Of Egypt - for
the next months
He served
Gallipoli as a soldier,
Until enteric
fever sent him to England.
Once back in
Sinai area Oliver Hogue,
Now Lieutenant,
became orderly
Officer to
Colonel Ryrie - basically
Still a
journalist, Hogue's recorded
Experience in letters
to family and Herald.
Despite all Hogue
stayed cheerful,
To stick to
reporting the truth -
An officer to be
known across
Australia for his
accounts, under
The pseudonym Trooper Bluegum.
Writing out verbal pictures of Gallipoli
He contributed various articles
To T.P.'s Journal of
Great Deeds
With readable,
straightforward
Ways to say how he
avoided a scratch.
'While blokes like
Paddy Ryan
Gained a hole in
hat and DCM -
While Billy Sing
had a shoulder
Wound - how at
total 30,000
Dead came the
single word to quit.'
With a chatty
style to state his
Hurt at leaving their
sleeping pals
At Anzac - the
story would
Stick, even in
peace between
Campaigns, Bluegum didn't forget.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Trooper
'Bluegum'. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 22 February 1916. P.12. Col.3. Available at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12165475/Daily-Telegraph-February-22-1916.html
[Accessed: 22 February 2016].
Source: Mitchell,
E. File: Hogue, Oliver (1880–1919). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Online.
Available at: <http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hogue-oliver-6700> [Accessed 22
February 2016]
Source: Major
Oliver 'Trooper Bluegum' Hogue. Australian War Memorial. Online. Available at:
<https://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10675880/> [Accessed 22 February 2016]
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Australia
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