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Charge of Flowerdew’s Squadron, Painted by Sir Alfred James Munnings. Currently in the Beaverbrook Collection of War Art. Canvas was formerly at the Imperial War Museum in London; but it is now in the collection of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Nearly three-quarters of the Canadian cavalry involved in this attack against German machine-gun positions at Moreuil Wood on 30 March 1918 were killed or wounded. This included Lieutenant G.M. Flowerdew, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), who was awarded the Victoria Cross for leading the charge that, while devastating to the Canadian horsemen, did break the German line. Unable to break the trench deadlock and of little use at the front, cavalry remained behind the lines for much of the war. During the German offensives of March and April 1918, however, the cavalry played an essential role in the open warfare that temporarily confronted the retreating British forces.
Flowerdew’s VC citation:
For most conspicuous bravery and dash when in command of a squadron detailed for special services of a very important nature. 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. 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.
The Royal Canadians, now in their 113th year, are part of the Royal Canadian Armored Corps today as a recon unit stationed in Edmonton, AB. They are a reinforced battalion-sized unit equipped with 40 Leopard 2′s (21 Leopard 2A4M’s,19 Leopard 2A6M’s) and 24 Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicles. Organized during the Boer War, they have seen combat in WWI (France 1915-18 on horse), WWII (Italy 1944-45 and Holland with M4 Shermans) Korea (1950-53 with M4A3E8 Shermans), and Afghanistan (2002-2011 mainly with Task Force Kandahar) as well as peacekeeping in Bosnia.
As for Flowerdew, he is buried at Namps-au-Val Cemetery in France located 11 miles south-east of Amiens (plot I, row H. grave 1)
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