Wounded at Gallipoli and the Western Front (where he was also gassed), Bowden was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 with particular reference to his daring at the Battle of Mont St Quentin.

He joined the Country Party in 1923, was elected to Cranbourne Shire Council in 1928 (serving until 1938) and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Mornington in 1935 and 1937.

Although President of the Victorian United Country Party from 1940 to 1943, Bowden was not instrumental in the restoration of unity between the branches due to his military commitments during World War II.

He served overseas, but was transferred to the Reserve of Officers in December and was chosen as the Country Party candidate to replace Thomas Paterson in the Australian House of Representatives seat of Gippsland.

With Paterson's support, Bowden won Gippsland in 1943 by a narrow majority, and held it until his retirement in 1961, during which time the seat returned to a safe Country Party stronghold.