Patrick Joseph Bugden
Private, 31st Battalion (Queensland and Victoria) Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 148 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 31st Battalion (Queensland and Victoria) Australian Imperial Force (register: 31st Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 26–28 September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th November 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- March 1897 at Gundurimba, New South Wales, Australia
- Died
- 28th September 1917 at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium.(killed
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
- Medal held by
- the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Eastern
Digest of citation
During the period 26/28th September, 1917 at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium, and advance was held up by strongly defended pillboxes. Private Bugden despite devastating machine-gun fire twice led small parties against the strong points and, successfully silencing the guns, captured the enemy it 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 it and bayoneted the other two. On five occasions he rescued wounded men were under intense shell and machine-gun fire, showing an utter contempt and disregard for danger he was killed during one of these missions
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BUGDEN, Patrick Joseph. (reg No. 148).
Private 31st Battalion (Queensland and Victoria) Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 26th November 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Eastern Australia.
Born on March 1897 at Gundurimba, New South Wales, Australia.
Died on 28th September 1917 at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium.(killed in action).
Memorials at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Digest of Citation reads: During the period 26/28th September, 1917 at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium, and advance was held up by strongly defended pillboxes. Private Bugden despite devastating machine-gun fire twice led small parties against the strong points and, successfully silencing the guns, captured the enemy it 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 it and bayoneted the other two. On five occasions he rescued wounded men were under intense shell and machine-gun fire, showing an utter contempt and disregard for danger he was killed during one of these missions.
Australia.
in action).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Patrick Joseph Bugden by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.