Gordon muriel flowerdew biography of mahatma gandhi
Gordon Flowerdew
English-born Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross (–)
Gordon Muriel FlowerdewVC (2 January – 31 March ) was an English-born Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, received for his actions at the Battle of Moreuil Wood.
Early life
He was born in Billingford, Norfolk, one of fourteen children of Arthur John Blomfield Flowerdew and Hannah Flowerdew (nee Symonds).
Gordon muriel flowerdew biography of mahatma gandhi for kids Veterans Affairs Canada. Width: External links [ edit ]. It operates out of its headquarters in RentHe was educated at Framlingham College in Suffolk, as were all nine of his brothers.[1] At the age of 18, after a bout of pleurisy, he emigrated to British Columbia, where he took up ranching, settling in Walhachin, a community known locally as "little England".[1]
Military career
When the First World War broke out in September , he enlisted as a private in Lord Strathcona's Horse.
He rose quickly through the ranks and was commissioned as an officer in By January , Flowerdew was given command of C Squadron of Lord Strathcona's Horse.
For most of the war, the Canadian Cavalry Brigade was not involved in much direct fighting, because of the static nature of the trench warfare on the Western Front.
However, when the Germans launched Operation Michael and began a rapid advance in the spring of , cavalry again became an important factor. In late March, as the Germans approached Moreuil and threatened to cross the L'Avre River, the last natural barrier before Amiens, the Canadian Cavalry Corps was assigned the task of stopping them.
As the Germans began to enter Moreuil Wood from the east, Lieutenant Flowerdew's squadron rode around the wood and approached the Germans' flank from the north.
Gordon muriel flowerdew biography of mahatma gandhi in english In the scuffle, Lt Flowerdew was wounded he died of his injuries the next day and was conferred the highest military honor —the Victoria Cross. Joan Weir, Walhachin, catastrophe or Camelot? The Vimy Foundation. Ben Urich is a fictional character in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.Flowerdew's commanding officer, Brigadier General Jack Seely, had ordered a cavalry charge.[1]
Riding into the fire of five infantry companies and an artillery battery, the squadron suffered atrocious casualties (more than half of the men in C Squadron were killed), and Flowerdew himself was fatally wounded.
However, the cavalry charge so unnerved the Germans that they were never able to capture Moreuil Wood, and their advance turned into a retreat in early April. His actions in "The Last Great Cavalry Charge" led to the award of the Victoria Cross. Flowerdew lived long enough to be made aware of the success of the charge. Seely wrote to his sister, referring to "when your brave young brother met his death at the moment of victory to which he had contributed the largest share".[1]
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and dash when in command of a squadron detailed for special services of a very important nature.
Biography of mahatma gandhi hindi Gordon muriel flowerdew biography of mahatma gandhi pdf Tagalog biography of mahatma gandhi On reaching his first objective, Lieutenant Flowerdew saw two lines of enemy, each about sixty strong, with machine guns in the centre and flanks; one line being about two hundred yards behind the other. Realizing the critical nature of the operation and how much depended on it, Lieut. Flowerdew ordered a troop under Lieut. Harvey, VC, to dismount and carry out a special movement, while he led the remaining three troops to the charge.
The squadron (less one troop) passed over both lines, killing many of the enemy with the sword; and wheeling about galloping on them again. Although the squadron had then lost about 70 per cent of its members, killed and wounded from rifle and machine gun fire directed on it from the front and both flanks, the enemy broke and retired.
The survivors of the squadron then established themselves in a position where they were joined, after much hand-to-hand fighting, by Lieut.
Gordon muriel flowerdew biography of mahatma gandhi One of 14 children, Gordon Flowerdew was educated from to at Framlingham College in Suffolk, where he shone more on the playing-fields than in the classroom. During the German offensives of March and April , however, the cavalry played an essential role in the open warfare that temporarily confronted the retreating British forces. It was a disguised heavily-armed merchantman that lured unsuspecting U-boats to the surface and sunk them with gunfire. You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter.Harvey's part. Lieut. Flowerdew was dangerously wounded through both thighs during the operation, but continued to cheer his men. There can be no doubt that this officer's great valour was the prime factor in the capture of the position.[3]
Flowerdew's VC was one of twenty awarded during the battles of the German and Allied offensives in the Amiens area in
Alfred Munnings, who was then a largely unknown war artist, created an oil painting Charge of Flowerdew's Squadron which depicts this cavalry charge.
Biography of mahatma gandhi death Credit: Legion Magazine. On 27 March the Canadian Cavalry Brigade was assigned to the 2nd British Cavalry Division, and three days later was ordered to recapture Moreuil Wood, which had recently fallen to the German advance. The move to Canada proved to be a turning point in Flowerdew's life, as it gave him the opportunity to serve his adopted country and to make his mark in history as a hero of the Great War. Although he perished in battle, his spirit lives on through the Victoria Cross he was posthumously awarded for his gallantry.The canvas was formerly at the Imperial War Museum in London; it is now in the collection of the Canadian War Museum in 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 donated by his mother to Framlingham College in England.
It had been on loan to, and displayed by, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) at their gallery in The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta, from to The medal was returned to the college in , returning to be displayed on the Moreuil Wood Military Parade and commemoration.
Lieutenant Flowerdew is a character in the play Mary's Wedding, by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte.
The climax of the play takes place during the charge at Moreuil Wood.[7]