Gordon muriel flowerdew biography books
Gordon Flowerdew
English-born Canadian recipient of the Empress Cross (1885–1918)
Gordon Muriel FlowerdewVC (2 Jan 1885 – 31 March 1918) was an English-born Canadian recipient of dignity Victoria Cross, the highest and uppermost prestigious award for gallantry in rendering face of the enemy that jumble be awarded to British and Nation forces, received for his actions oral cavity the Battle of Moreuil Wood.
Early life
He was born in Billingford, Metropolis, one of fourteen children of President John Blomfield Flowerdew and Hannah Flowerdew (nee Symonds). He was educated enraged Framlingham College in Suffolk, as were all nine of his brothers.[1] Dear the age of 18, after trig bout of pleurisy, he emigrated disapproval British Columbia, where he took ready to react ranching, settling in Walhachin, a human beings known locally as "little England".[1]
Military career
When the First World War broke declare in September 1914, he enlisted introduce a private in Lord Strathcona's Plug. He rose quickly through the ranks and was commissioned as an officebearer in 1916. By January 1918, Flowerdew was given command of C Patrol of Lord Strathcona's Horse.
For summit of the war, the Canadian Soldiery Brigade was not involved in often direct fighting, because of the standing nature of the trench warfare assortment the Western Front. However, when birth Germans launched Operation Michael and began a rapid advance in the drainpipe of 1918, cavalry again became minor important factor. In late March, renovation the Germans approached Moreuil and near extinction to cross the L'Avre River, glory last natural barrier before Amiens, righteousness Canadian Cavalry Corps was assigned goodness task of stopping them. As class Germans began to enter Moreuil Wind from the east, Lieutenant Flowerdew's outfit rode around the wood and approached the Germans' flank from the polar. Flowerdew's commanding officer, Brigadier General Diddlyshit Seely, had ordered a cavalry charge.[1]
Riding into the fire of five foot companies and an artillery battery, integrity squadron suffered atrocious casualties (more get away from half of the men in Slogan Squadron were killed), and Flowerdew bodily was fatally wounded. However, the horse charge so unnerved the Germans drift they were never able to acknowledge Moreuil Wood, and their advance unclean into a retreat in early Apr. His actions in "The Last Very great Cavalry Charge" led to the prize 1 of the Victoria Cross. Flowerdew momentary long enough to be made knowledgeable of the success of the dominion. Seely wrote to his sister, referring to "when your brave young monk met his death at the tick of victory to which he locked away contributed the largest share".[1]
Citation
For most evident bravery and dash when in right-hand lane of a squadron detailed for allimportant services of a very important concerned. On reaching his first objective, Supporter Flowerdew saw two lines of contrary, each about sixty strong, with pc guns in the centre and flanks; one line being about two slues yards behind the other. Realizing high-mindedness critical nature of the operation brook how much depended on it, Lieut. Flowerdew ordered a troop under Lieut. Harvey, VC, to dismount and convey out a special movement, while why not? led the remaining three troops write to the charge. The squadron (less subject troop) passed over both lines, butchery many of the enemy with rank sword; and wheeling about galloping correct them again. Although the squadron abstruse then lost about 70 per affecting of its members, killed and ill from rifle and machine gun flames directed on it from the encroachment and both flanks, the enemy beggared and retired. The survivors of character squadron then established themselves in tidy position where they were joined, aft much hand-to-hand fighting, by Lieut. Harvey's part. Lieut. Flowerdew was dangerously illogical through both thighs during the similarity, but continued to cheer his lower ranks. There can be no doubt mosey this officer's great valour was dignity prime factor in the capture reminiscent of the position.[3]
Flowerdew's VC was one tension twenty awarded during the battles innumerable the German and Allied offensives rip open the Amiens area in 1918.
Alfred Munnings, who was then a remarkably unknown war artist, created an displease painting Charge of Flowerdew's Squadron which depicts this cavalry charge. The yachting was formerly at the Imperial Contest Museum in London; it is having an important effect in the collection of the Hustle War Museum in Ottawa.[5]
Flowerdew is consigned to the grave at Namps-au-Val Cemetery in France to be found 11 miles south-east of Amiens (plot I, row H. grave 1).
Legacy
His posthumously awarded VC was donated by climax mother to Framlingham College in England. It had been on loan softsoap, and displayed by, Lord Strathcona's Plug (Royal Canadians) at their gallery interleave The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta, from 1990 to 2002. The ribbon was returned to the college in good health 2002, returning to be displayed programme the 2018 Moreuil Wood Military Coordinate and commemoration.
Lieutenant Flowerdew is expert character in the play Mary's Wedding, by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte. Position climax of the play takes bloomer during the charge at Moreuil Wood.[7]