| Regimental number | 3774 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Lismore, New South Wales |
| School | Gundurimba Public School, and Tatham Convent School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Hotelkeeper |
| Address | Alstonville, Lismore, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 21 |
| Height | 5' 10.5" |
| Weight | 180 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Annie Kelly, Alstonville, Lismore, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served for 1 year in the Compulsory Military Training scheme (Area 9); equipment returned. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, 9th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Victoria Cross Killed in action. Recommendation date: |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Name given on RoH circular as Patrick Joseph BUGDEN. Place of birth alternatively given as South Gundurimba, New South Wales. |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium |
| Age at death | 20 |
| Place of burial | Hooge Crater Cemetery (Plot VIII, Row C, Grave No 5), Zillebeke, Belgium |
| Commemoration details | 118 |
| Medals |
Victoria Cross 'For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, on two occasions, our advance was temporarrily held up by strongly defended "pill boxes". Private Bugden, in the face of devastating fire from machine guns, gallantly led small parties to attack these strong points, and, successfully silencing the machine guns with bombs, captured the garrison at the point of the bayonet. On another occasion, when a Corporal, who had become detached from his company, had been captured and was being taken to the rear by the enemy, Private Bugden, single handed, rushed to the rescue of his comrade, shot one enemy, and bayonetted the remaining two, thus releasing the Corporal. On five occasions, he rescued wounded men under intense shell and machine gun fire, showing an utter contempt and disregard for danger. Always foremost in volunteering for any dangerous mission, it was during the execution of one of these missions that this gallant soldier was killed.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: |
| Family/military connections | Cousins (2nd): 2625 Pte Alfred Edward BUGDEN, 49th Bn, killed in action, Dernancourt, France, 5 April 1918; 390 Pte James Alfred BUGDEN, 2nd Machine Gun Bn, died of wounds, 22 August 1918. |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Brisbane, 19 September 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 9 December 1916. Marched in to 8th Training Bn, 11 December 1916. Admitted to Isolation Hospital, Hurdcott, 17 December 1916; marched into 8th Training Bn from Isolation Camp, 31 December 1916 (no details of sickness recorded). Proceeded overseas to France, 16 January 1917; taken on strength, 31st Bn, 19 March 1917. Admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance, 3 May 1917 (influenza), and transferred same day to 5th Divisional Rest Station; discharged to duty, 14 May 1917; rejoined unit, 15 May 1917. Killed in action, Belgium, 28 September 1917. Posthumously awarded Victoria Cross. Medals: Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
