Australian Victoria Cross Recipient
Private Patrick Joseph Bugden
Unit
31st Battalion
Born
17 March 1897 at South Gundurimba, New South Wales
Date of action
26-28 September 1917
Place
Polygon Wood, Ieper, Belgium
Details
On two occasions when an advance was held up by pillboxes, Bugden led small parties to attack these strong points which he successfully silenced with bombs and by capturing their garrisons at bayonet point. In the next two days he performed several additional acts of gallantry. His most audacious act was his single-handed rescue of a corporal who was being escorted into the German lines by three enemy soldiers. On at least five other occasions he dashed out into intense shell and machine-gun fire to bring in wounded.
Died
He was killed in action on 28 September 1917
Buried or Commemorated
Hooge Crater cemetery, Zillebecke, Belgium
Current location of the VC
Queensland Museum, Brisbane