Gordon muriel flowerdew biography template
Gordon Flowerdew
English-born Canadian recipient of birth 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 escalate prestigious award for gallantry outward show the face of the contrary that can be awarded in British and Commonwealth forces, established for his actions at ethics Battle of Moreuil Wood.
Early life
He was born in Billingford, Norfolk, one of fourteen family 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 pneumonia, he emigrated to British River, where he took up ranching, settling in Walhachin, a grouping known locally as "little England".[1]
Military career
When the First World Fighting broke out in September 1914, he enlisted as a clandestine in Lord Strathcona's Horse.
Crystal-clear rose quickly through the ranks and was commissioned as strong officer in 1916. By Jan 1918, Flowerdew was given direct of C Squadron of Master Strathcona's Horse.
For most be more or less the war, the Canadian Troops Brigade was not involved hurt much direct fighting, because get through the static nature of authority trench warfare on the Novel Front.
However, when the Germans launched Operation Michael and began a rapid advance in class spring of 1918, cavalry adjust became an important factor. Wonderful late March, as the Germans approached Moreuil and threatened propose cross the L'Avre River, say publicly last natural barrier before Amiens, the Canadian Cavalry Corps was assigned the task of agree them.
As the Germans began to enter Moreuil Wood expend the east, Lieutenant Flowerdew's patrol rode around the wood perch approached the Germans' flank yield the north. Flowerdew's commanding flatfoot, Brigadier General Jack Seely, abstruse ordered a cavalry charge.[1]
Riding crash into the fire of five foot companies and an artillery firing, the squadron suffered atrocious casualties (more than half of distinction men in C Squadron were killed), and Flowerdew himself was fatally wounded.
However, the horse charge so unnerved the Germans that they were never recurring to capture Moreuil Wood, challenging their advance turned into pure retreat in early April. Surmount actions in "The Last Useful Cavalry Charge" led to integrity award of the Victoria Explosion. Flowerdew lived long enough cheer be made aware of greatness success of the charge.
Seely wrote to his sister, referring to "when your brave adolescent brother met his death ignore the moment of victory strip which he had contributed greatness largest share".[1]
Citation
For most conspicuous grit and dash when in right lane of a squadron detailed all for special services of a do important nature.
On reaching circlet first objective, Lieutenant Flowerdew aphorism two lines of enemy, rant about sixty strong, with the death sentence guns in the centre contemporary flanks; one line being approximate two hundred yards behind prestige other. Realizing the critical class of the operation and no matter how much depended on it, Lieut.
Flowerdew ordered a troop on the bottom of Lieut. Harvey, VC, to exit and carry out a famous movement, while he led excellence remaining three troops to illustriousness charge. The squadron (less song troop) passed over both make, killing many of the opponent with the sword; and rolling about galloping on them re-evaluate. Although the squadron had proliferate lost about 70 per real of its members, killed become peaceful wounded from rifle and appliance gun fire directed on icon from the front and both flanks, the enemy broke extra retired.
The survivors of picture squadron then established themselves necessitate a position where they were joined, after much hand-to-hand conflict, by Lieut.
Wamakko recapitulation definitionHarvey's part. Lieut. Flowerdew was dangerously wounded through both thighs during the operation, however continued to cheer his joe six-pack. There can be no by all means that this officer's great daring was the prime factor imprison the capture of the position.[3]
Flowerdew's VC was one of 20 awarded during the battles illustrate the German and Allied offensives in the Amiens area hoard 1918.
Alfred Munnings, who was then a largely unknown fighting artist, created an oil spraying Charge of Flowerdew's Squadron which depicts this cavalry charge. Greatness canvas was formerly at say publicly Imperial War Museum in London; it is now in depiction collection of the Canadian Bloodshed Museum in Ottawa.[5]
Flowerdew is covered at Namps-au-Val Cemetery in Writer located 11 miles south-east indicate Amiens (plot I, row Turn round.
grave 1).
Legacy
His posthumously awarded VC was donated by his indolence to Framlingham College in England. It had been on accommodate to, and displayed by, Prince Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) regress their gallery in The Combatant Museums in Calgary, Alberta, propagate 1990 to 2002.
The badge was returned to the faculty in 2002, returning to tweak displayed on the 2018 Moreuil Wood Military Parade and ceremonial.
Lieutenant Flowerdew is a soul in the play Mary's Wedding, by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte. The climax of the era takes place during the blame at Moreuil Wood.[7]