Thesis
Anzac’s forgotten witness: the importance of Oliver Hogue’s “Trooper Bluegum” in the war reportage of the Gallipoli campaign
Master of Arts, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/01072
Abstract
Oliver Hogue, under the pseudonym “Trooper Bluegum”, contributed 40 news stories to the retelling of the lead-up to and the actions of Australian soldiers during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign. However, he seems to have been forgotten by history. At a time when the majority of stories printed in Australian newspapers were not accredited, he was among the very few Australian journalists to gain a byline. Hogue wrote mainly in the first person, bolstered by vivid descriptive passages that gained currency with the Australian people. This was evident in the many regional and metropolitan newspapers that reprinted his articles and in the popularity of his subsequent books recounting his experiences. While Hogue played an integral role in informing the nation, his involvement has been overlooked, with very little of his existence recognised. For example, there is no mention of him in Phillip Knightley’s 1975 seminal chronology of war correspondents or Anderson and Trembath’s 2011 history of Australian war reporters. As his valuable and popular role has been lost to Australia’s media history, this study addresses this lack of historical fidelity and re-establishes recognition of Oliver Hogue’s
importance to journalism during the Gallipoli campaign. To gain an overall assessment of Hogue’s involvement in the Gallipoli story, this study examines what may have influenced his writing. Thus, the research investigates whether Hogue’s stories were influenced by gatekeeping, propaganda, censorship and/or the use of questionable news. Secondly, there is evidence that a myth was conceived during this campaign that would evolve into an integral part of the nation’s identity. Consequently, this study examines Hogue’s contribution to the narrative surrounding the growth and maturation of the Gallipoli legend. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how Hogue made a significant
investment to Australian journalistic history and reinstates his significance in the first rough draft of the Gallipoli story.
Details
- Title
- Anzac’s forgotten witness: the importance of Oliver Hogue’s “Trooper Bluegum” in the war reportage of the Gallipoli campaign
- Authors
- Russell Phipps - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
- Contributors
- Peter English (Principal Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Work, Live and Play Research ClusterAmy Clarke (Co-Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts
- DOI
- 10.25907/01072
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991245600002621
- Output Type
- Thesis
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