BUGDEN, Varney Francis
| Service Number: | 647 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 October 1914, Enlisted at Victoria Barracks, Paddington |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF |
| Born: | Camden, New South Wales, Australia , 8 April 1892 |
| Home Town: | Camden, Camden, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Hospital attendant |
| Died: | Motorcycle accident , Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia, 30 May 1924, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kenmore (Saint Patrick) Cemetery, Goulburn, NSW Old section |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 647, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, Enlisted at Victoria Barracks, Paddington | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Nov 1914: | Involvement Private, 647, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Nov 1914: | Embarked Private, 647, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, HMAT Kyarra, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 647, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 17 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 647, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, Embarked at Suez for return to Australia aboard HMAT Seang Choon | |
| 4 Oct 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 647, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, Discharged medically unfit in 2nd Military District (Sydney), due to recurrent bronchitis, and pneumonia. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Varney Francis BUGDEN was born in Camden, NSW, on 8th April 1892, the eldest child and only son of James Alfred and Mary (née CURRY) BUGDEN.
A hospital attendant at the time of his enlistment in the AIF on 10th October 1914, he was assigned as a Private with the 2nd Australian General Hospital, Australian Army Medical Corps. Varney served at Gallipoli for the duration of that campaign, before being transferred to the Number 9 Dental Unit (1st Australian Dental Hospital) at Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt on 25th March 1916.
After suffering severe bouts of bronchitis, and subsequently contracting subacute broncho pneumonia, he was discharged medically unfit for further active service on 4th October 1916, although he remained on the reserve list for home service until the end of the War. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.
About 5pm on Friday 30th May 1924, Varney was riding his motorcycle in Union Street, North Goulburn, on his way home from his job as a railway fireman, when a dog ran onto the road in front of him. In his attempt to avoid the dog, he applied his brakes heavily, but collided with the dog and was thrown over the handlebars and onto the road. The motorcycle somersaulted, and landed on top of him, fracturing his skull and lacerating his brain, which resulted in his death in Goulburn District Hospital about 2 hours later. He was 32 years old, and engaged to be married. Varney is buried in the old section of the St Patrick's Cemetery at Kenmore (Goulburn), New South Wales.
Lest we forget...
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, and newspaper articles on Trove.
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