Hooge Crater Cemetery, Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Hooge, Belgium
Hooge Crater Cemetery is a World War I burial ground in West Flanders, Belgium, containing the graves of more than 5,900 soldiers from Commonwealth nations. The burials include thousands of unidentified servicemen whose names remain unknown to this day.
The cemetery was established in October 1917 with fewer than 100 initial burials and expanded rapidly as bodies were recovered from the heavy fighting around Ypres. The continuous repatriations and relocations after the war turned it into one of the largest Commonwealth cemeteries in the region.
The cemetery reflects Commonwealth values with its austere stone memorial and uniform rows of graves that honor all fallen soldiers equally, regardless of rank. The layout shows how the war graves commission built those principles of equality and solemn remembrance into every detail of the grounds.
The cemetery sits on the Menin Road about four kilometers east of Ypres, directly across from the Hooge Crater Museum for added context about the battles. The flat grounds are easy to walk through, and there are benches scattered throughout where visitors can pause and reflect.
Buried here is Major Albert Stewart, an Irish rugby player who fell during the Battle of Broodseinde and was given the same grave treatment as any other soldier. His story links the world of sports to that of a fallen serviceman whose name is recorded on his stone.
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