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Private Patrick Joseph Bugden

Unit: 31st Battalion, 8th Brigade, 5th Division
Action: 26-28 September 1917, Polygon Wood, near Ypres, Belgium.
In the three days before his death, Bugden, 20, performed numerous acts of bravery.

The citation says: "When, on two occasions, our advance was temporarily held up by strongly defended pillboxes. 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 bayoneted 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.''
Biography: While many Queenslanders may not recognise his name, they may have seen his Victoria Cross which is part of the Queensland Museum collection.

The young barman and champion athlete, who trained at Enoggera and enlisted in Brisbane, was born on 17 March 1897 at South Gundurimba, New South Wales.

He enlisted on 25 May 1916 and joined the 31st Battalion at Bapaume on 19 March 1917.

He is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium. On June 14, 1980, his sister presented his Victoria Cross to the Queensland Museum.