The Western Front Today - Hooge Crater
A major theme park today sits on the
site of Hooge Chateau, the then Divisional Headquarters of Major General
Monro. The Chateau (which formerly hosted both
Sir John French
and Sir Douglas Haig) was destroyed in a German attack which began on 31
October 1914. On that date the chateau took
a direct hit from a German shell, wounding Major-General Monro and killing several
of his staff officers.
Next to the theme park and accompanying hotel, Hotel Kasteel (the latter
roughly situated on the site of the original chateau), is a pond formed by a
crater from a mine blown by the British on 19
July 1915.
The pond crater is to the left of the hotel and theme park, and
blockhouses (dating from
1916) can still be found nearby, partly submerged under water.
Hooge is also famed for being the site of the first German
flame thrower
attack against the British. Using 'Flammenwerfer' equipment - a cylinder
strapped to the back of one man, attached to which was
a lit nozzle, producing a jet of flame reaching up to 25 yards in length,
thick black smoke billowing - the Germans launched a surprise attack at 0315
on 30 July 1915.
The effect of the dangerous nature of the surprise attack
proved terrifying to
the British,
although the line, initially pushed back, was stabilised later that night by
8th Rifle Brigade and 7th Bn KRRC.
In two days of severe fighting the
British lost 31 officers and 751 other ranks.
Next to the crater is a recently opened museum,
Hooge Crater Museum,
situated on the former
No Man's Land at Hooge.
Under private ownership this modern, clean museum contains an outstanding collection of WW1 memorabilia, including armour, equipment, uniforms and artefacts - and even wooden posts originally located at Hellfire Corner.
Opposite both Hooge Crater and the Museum is Hooge Crater cemetery.
Film Footage of Hooge Crater (1)
Film Footage of Hooge Crater (2)
References:
Before Endeavours Fade, Rose E.B. Coombs, After the Battle 1994
Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide - Somme, Leo Cooper 2000
French tanks were used for the first time in battle on 17 April 1917, when the 'Char Schneider' (as they were known) was used during the Second Battle of the Aisne.
- Did you know?