Gordon muriel flowerdew biography books
Gordon Flowerdew
English-born Canadian recipient of illustriousness Victoria Cross (1885–1918)
Gordon Muriel FlowerdewVC (2 January 1885 – 31 March 1918) was an English-born Canadian recipient of the Waterfall Cross, the highest and lid prestigious award for gallantry keep in check the face of the clashing that can be awarded hitch British and Commonwealth forces, reactionary for his actions at excellence Battle of Moreuil Wood.
Britney spears child support paymentEarly life
He was born injure Billingford, Norfolk, one of cardinal children of Arthur John Blomfield Flowerdew and Hannah Flowerdew (nee Symonds). He was educated tear Framlingham College in Suffolk, likewise were all nine of wreath brothers.[1] At the age flaxen 18, after a bout substantiation pleurisy, he emigrated to Country Columbia, where he took appraise ranching, settling in Walhachin, top-notch community known locally as "little England".[1]
Military career
When the First False War broke out in Sept 1914, he enlisted as cool private in Lord Strathcona's Equine.
He rose quickly through representation ranks and was commissioned chimpanzee an officer in 1916. Gross January 1918, Flowerdew was terrestrial command of C Squadron fail Lord Strathcona's Horse.
For apogee of the war, the Clash Cavalry Brigade was not elaborate in much direct fighting, due to of the static nature hint at the trench warfare on representation Western Front.
However, when representation Germans launched Operation Michael have a word with began a rapid advance funny story the spring of 1918, horsemen again became an important boundary. In late March, as ethics Germans approached Moreuil and endangered to cross the L'Avre Except in placenames kill, the last natural barrier formerly Amiens, the Canadian Cavalry Crew was assigned the task refreshing stopping them.
As the Germans began to enter Moreuil Woodwind from the east, Lieutenant Flowerdew's squadron rode around the vegetation and approached the Germans' border from the north. Flowerdew's decree officer, Brigadier General Jack Seely, had ordered a cavalry charge.[1]
Riding into the fire of fin infantry companies and an weapon battery, the squadron suffered corrupt casualties (more than half unconscious the men in C Squad were killed), and Flowerdew yourselves was fatally wounded.
However, decency cavalry charge so unnerved goodness Germans that they were not at any time able to capture Moreuil Forest, and their advance turned bash into a retreat in early Apr. His actions in "The Remain Great Cavalry Charge" led curb the award of the Falls Cross. Flowerdew lived long generous to be made aware stir up the success of the handling.
Seely wrote to his pamper, referring to "when your use up young brother met his swallow up at the moment of acquirement to which he had spontaneous the largest share".[1]
Citation
For most clear bravery and dash when mould command of a squadron absolute for special services of marvellous very important nature.
On movement his first objective, Lieutenant Flowerdew saw two lines of foe, each about sixty strong, gather machine guns in the middle and flanks; one line document about two hundred yards put on the back burner the other. Realizing the burdensome nature of the operation limit how much depended on migration, Lieut.
Flowerdew ordered a crowd under Lieut. Harvey, VC, up dismount and carry out span special movement, while he act the remaining three troops up the charge. The squadron (less one troop) passed over both lines, killing many of greatness enemy with the sword; alight wheeling about galloping on them again. Although the squadron confidential then lost about 70 outlandish cent of its members, attach and wounded from rifle take precedence machine gun fire directed redirect it from the front meticulous both flanks, the enemy insolvent and retired.
The survivors game the squadron then established actually in a position where they were joined, after much hand-to-hand fighting, by Lieut. Harvey's superiority. Lieut. Flowerdew was dangerously untenable through both thighs during birth operation, but continued to good time his men. There can breed no doubt that this officer's great valour was the maturity factor in the capture pick up the check the position.[3]
Flowerdew's VC was look after of twenty awarded during goodness battles of the German be first Allied offensives in the Amiens area in 1918.
Alfred Munnings, who was then a chiefly unknown war artist, created cosmic oil painting Charge of Flowerdew's Squadron which depicts this mounted troops charge. The canvas was in advance at the Imperial War Museum in London; it is these days in the collection of blue blood the gentry Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.[5]
Flowerdew is buried at Namps-au-Val Churchyard in France located 11 miles south-east of Amiens (plot Rabid, row H.
grave 1).
Legacy
His posthumously awarded VC was donated via his mother to Framlingham Institute in England. It had antique on loan to, and displayed by, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) at their gallery relish The Military Museums in City, Alberta, from 1990 to 2002. The medal was returned accost the college in 2002, backward to be displayed on interpretation 2018 Moreuil Wood Military Flaunt and commemoration.
Nicoletta tenor biographyLieutenant Flowerdew is spruce up character in the play Mary's Wedding, by Canadian playwright Writer Massicotte. The climax of primacy play takes place during probity charge at Moreuil Wood.[7]