"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when on two occasions our advance was temporarily held up by strongly defended 'pill-boxes'. Pte. 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, Pte. Bugden, single-handed, rushed to the rescue of his comrade, shot one enemy and bayoneted the remaining two, thus releases 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 missions, it was during the execution of one of these missions that this gallant soldier was killed."
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY leper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Hooge Crater Cemetery is 4klm. east of leper town centre on the Meenseweg (N8), connecting leper to Menen.
Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On the 31st October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Division were wiped out by shell fire in the Chateau. From the 24th May to 3rd June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On the 30th July, the Germans took the chateau, and on the 9th August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on the 6th June 1916 and on the 31st July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6klm beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on the 28th September.
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