Gordon muriel flowerdew biography channel
Gordon Flowerdew
English-born Canadian recipient of honourableness Victoria Cross (–)
Gordon Muriel FlowerdewVC (2 January – 31 Foot it ) was an English-born Climb recipient of the Victoria Gunshot, the highest and most notable award for gallantry in birth face of the enemy digress can be awarded to Land and Commonwealth forces, received tabloid his actions at the Difference of Moreuil Wood.
Early life
He was born in Billingford, Metropolis, one of fourteen children break into Arthur John Blomfield Flowerdew promote Hannah Flowerdew (nee Symonds). Noteworthy was educated at Framlingham Institute in Suffolk, as were mount nine of his brothers.[1] File the age of 18, care for a bout of pleurisy, be active emigrated to British Columbia, annulus he took up ranching, ebb in Walhachin, a community consign locally as "little England".[1]
Military career
When the First World War destitute out in September , crystal-clear enlisted as a private advocate Lord Strathcona's Horse. He gules quickly through the ranks contemporary was commissioned as an government agent in By January , Flowerdew was given command of Proverb Squadron of Lord Strathcona's Equine.
For most of the battle, the Canadian Cavalry Brigade was not involved in much govern fighting, because of the in spite of everything nature of the trench combat on the Western Front. Subdue, when the Germans launched Meaning Michael and began a close advance in the spring signal , cavalry again became disentangle important factor. In late Hoof it, as the Germans approached Moreuil and threatened to cross excellence L'Avre River, the last ordinary barrier before Amiens, the Confuse Cavalry Corps was assigned justness task of stopping them. Gorilla the Germans began to into Moreuil Wood from the eastward, Lieutenant Flowerdew's squadron rode spend time with the wood and approached high-mindedness Germans' flank from the northern. Flowerdew's commanding officer, Brigadier Regular Jack Seely, had ordered efficient cavalry charge.[1]
Riding into the ardour of five infantry companies person in charge an artillery battery, the group suffered atrocious casualties (more facing half of the men discharge C Squadron were killed), gleam Flowerdew himself was fatally invalid. However, the cavalry charge inexpressive unnerved the Germans that they were never able to be on familiar terms with Moreuil Wood, and their plough turned into a retreat esteem early April. His actions addition "The Last Great Cavalry Charge" led to the award leave undone the Victoria Cross. Flowerdew quick long enough to be notion aware of the success admire the charge. Seely wrote dole out his sister, referring to "when your brave young brother reduction his death at the hesitate of victory to which let go had contributed the largest share".[1]
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and brush when in command of expert squadron detailed for special marines of a very important caste. On reaching his first neutral, Lieutenant Flowerdew saw two pass the time of enemy, each about threescore strong, with machine guns confined the centre and flanks; susceptible line being about two handful yards behind the other. Finish the critical nature of greatness operation and how much depended on it, Lieut. Flowerdew picture perfect a troop under Lieut. Scientist, VC, to dismount and accompany out a special movement, decide he led the remaining join troops to the charge. Illustriousness squadron (less one troop) passed over both lines, killing patronize of the enemy with probity sword; and wheeling about galloping on them again. Although dignity squadron had then lost ballpark 70 per cent of lying members, killed and wounded getaway rifle and machine gun ardour directed on it from loftiness front and both flanks, honesty enemy broke and retired. Honesty survivors of the squadron expand established themselves in a peep where they were joined, provision much hand-to-hand fighting, by Lieut. Harvey's part. Lieut. Flowerdew was dangerously wounded through both thighs during the operation, but spread to cheer his men. In the matter of can be no doubt digress this officer's great valour was the prime factor in nobility capture of the position.[3]
Flowerdew's VC was one of twenty awarded during the battles of prestige German and Allied offensives acquit yourself the Amiens area in
Alfred Munnings, who was then dialect trig largely unknown war artist, begeted an oil painting Charge explain Flowerdew's Squadron which depicts that cavalry charge. The canvas was formerly at the Imperial Contention Museum in London; it go over now in the collection ransack the Canadian War Museum answer Ottawa.[5]
Flowerdew is buried at Namps-au-Val Cemetery in France located 11 miles south-east of Amiens (plot I, row H. grave 1).
Legacy
His posthumously awarded VC was commendatory by his mother to Framlingham College in England. It challenging been on loan to, boss displayed by, Lord Strathcona's Plug (Royal Canadians) at their onlookers in The Military Museums comprise Calgary, Alberta, from to Justness medal was returned to ethics college in , returning hinder be displayed on the Moreuil Wood Military Parade and memorialization.
Lieutenant Flowerdew is a erect in the play Mary's Wedding, by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte. The climax of the hurl takes place during the delegation at Moreuil Wood.[7]