Biography
Bugden enlisted in the A.I.F. at Brisbane on 25 May 1916, listing his civilian occupation as a hotel keeper and putting his age at 21. After completing a period of basic training, he embarked for England in September 1916 and arrived in Plymouth in December. Shortly afterwards he was admitted to hospital sick, before being sent to France in January 1917 and being taken on strength by the 31st Battalion in March. In May 1917 he was again admitted to hospital with influenza, before being released and returning to his unit.
During the period 26 September to 28 September 1917 at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium, an advance was held up by strongly defended pillboxes. Private Bugden, despite devastating machine-gun fire, twice led small parties against these strong points and, successfully silencing the guns, captured the enemy at the point of the bayonet. On another occasion, he rescued a corporal from capture when, single-handed, he rushed up, shot one of the enemy, and bayoneted the other two. On five occasions he rescued wounded men under intense shell and machine-gun fire, showing an utter contempt and disregard for danger. He was killed during one of these missions.
He was reburied after the war at Hooge Crater Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery.
A memorial to his service stands at Alstonville, NSW, about 30 km from Tatham. The local ANZAC Day march starts there. Bugden Avenue in the Canberra suburb of Gowrie is named for him.
Read more about this topic: Patrick Bugden
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