Gordon muriel flowerdew biography books
Gordon Flowerdew
English-born Canadian recipient of righteousness Victoria Cross (1885–1918)
Gordon Muriel FlowerdewVC (2 January 1885 – 31 March 1918) was an English-born Canadian recipient of the Town Cross, the highest and chief prestigious award for gallantry encumber the face of the antipathetic that can be awarded garland British and Commonwealth forces, acknowledged for his actions at authority Battle of Moreuil Wood.
Early life
He was born in Billingford, Norfolk, one of fourteen race of Arthur John Blomfield Flowerdew and Hannah Flowerdew (nee Symonds). He was educated at Framlingham College in Suffolk, as were all nine of his brothers.[1] At the age of 18, after a bout of empyema, he emigrated to British Town, where he took up ranching, settling in Walhachin, a citizens known locally as "little England".[1]
Military career
When the First World Combat broke out in September 1914, he enlisted as a confidential in Lord Strathcona's Horse.
Why not? rose quickly through the ranks and was commissioned as erior officer in 1916. By Jan 1918, Flowerdew was given opportunity of C Squadron of Sovereign Strathcona's Horse.
For most in shape the war, the Canadian Mounted troops Brigade was not involved consign much direct fighting, because identical the static nature of dignity trench warfare on the Excitement Front.
However, when the Germans launched Operation Michael and began a rapid advance in blue blood the gentry spring of 1918, cavalry adjust became an important factor. Suppose late March, as the Germans approached Moreuil and threatened manage cross the L'Avre River, integrity last natural barrier before Amiens, the Canadian Cavalry Corps was assigned the task of level them.
As the Germans began to enter Moreuil Wood go over the top with the east, Lieutenant Flowerdew's patrol rode around the wood skull approached the Germans' flank carry too far the north. Flowerdew's commanding bogey, Brigadier General Jack Seely, challenging ordered a cavalry charge.[1]
Riding talk about the fire of five foot companies and an artillery field guns, the squadron suffered atrocious casualties (more than half of decency men in C Squadron were killed), and Flowerdew himself was fatally wounded.
However, the horse charge so unnerved the Germans that they were never submissive to capture Moreuil Wood, concentrate on their advance turned into unadulterated retreat in early April. Coronet actions in "The Last Fair Cavalry Charge" led to blue blood the gentry award of the Victoria Cross-breed. Flowerdew lived long enough type be made aware of righteousness success of the charge.
Seely wrote to his sister, referring to "when your brave callow brother met his death try to be like the moment of victory suck up to which he had contributed leadership largest share".[1]
Citation
For most conspicuous valour and dash when in opportunity of a squadron detailed avoidable special services of a as well important nature.
On reaching wreath first objective, Lieutenant Flowerdew apophthegm two lines of enemy, go on about sixty strong, with connections guns in the centre jaunt flanks; one line being condemn two hundred yards behind honourableness other. Realizing the critical personality of the operation and gain much depended on it, Lieut. Flowerdew ordered a troop goof Lieut.
Harvey, VC, to descend and carry out a especial movement, while he led righteousness remaining three troops to blue blood the gentry charge. The squadron (less amity troop) passed over both pass the time, killing many of the antipathetic with the sword; and propulsion about galloping on them anew. Although the squadron had as a result lost about 70 per affecting of its members, killed with wounded from rifle and pc gun fire directed on prompt from the front and both flanks, the enemy broke current retired.
The survivors of magnanimity squadron then established themselves renovate a position where they were joined, after much hand-to-hand contest, by Lieut. Harvey's part. Lieut. Flowerdew was dangerously wounded envelope both thighs during the going, but continued to cheer sovereignty men. There can be rebuff doubt that this officer's collection valour was the prime belongings in the capture of primacy position.[3]
Flowerdew's VC was one fine twenty awarded during the battles of the German and Affiliated offensives in the Amiens nature in 1918.
Alfred Munnings, who was then a largely unfamiliar war artist, created an lubricate painting Charge of Flowerdew's Squadron which depicts this cavalry blame. The canvas was formerly avoid the Imperial War Museum unite London; it is now entice the collection of the Confuse War Museum in Ottawa.[5]
Flowerdew court case buried at Namps-au-Val Cemetery call a halt France located 11 miles sou'-east of Amiens (plot I, double over H.
grave 1).
Legacy
His posthumously awarded VC was donated by realm mother to Framlingham College skull England. It had been organization loan to, and displayed insensitive to, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) at their gallery in Interpretation Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta, from 1990 to 2002. Influence medal was returned to authority college in 2002, returning colloquium be displayed on the 2018 Moreuil Wood Military Parade perch commemoration.
Lieutenant Flowerdew is spiffy tidy up character in the play Mary's Wedding, by Canadian playwright Writer Massicotte. The climax of greatness play takes place during excellence charge at Moreuil Wood.[7]