The artist, Alfred Munnings, painted a famous picture of the "Charge of the Canadian Horsemen", in which Flowerdew won his Victoria Cross, it currently hangs in the Museum of Civilisation in Hull, Quebec, as part of a "Canvas of War" exhibition. A copy of the painting, The Flowerdew Charge, was presented to Framlingham College at a special ceremony in 1991. The brother and sister of Flowerdew had earlier presented his Victoria Cross to the college and following the presentation of the Munnings' painting, the VC was loaned to the Strathcona Museum in Calgary.
Gordon Flowerdew was born on the 2nd January 1885 at Billingford Hall near Scole, Norfolk, and attended Framlingham College from 1894 to 1899. Following his education, at the age of seventeen, he emigrated to Canada and took up work as a cowboy and later as a farmer. When the First World War broke out in 1914 he joined Lord Strathcona's Horse, a cavalry regiment, and was quickly commissioned a Lieutenant.
On 30th March 1918, General Seely, commanding the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, and Major Connolly, commanding Lord Strathcona's Horse, were able to converse with a French general on the task to take the town of Moreuil. It appeared to the Frenchman that to take the ridge was not possible with Seely's small force against perhaps a whole German division. Seely was, however, keen to make the attempt. It was agreed between the two men that the French should take the town of Moreuil to the south of a wood, and that Seely's force should capture the wood itself.
The plan was for three mounted squadrons of the Royal Canadian Dragoons to attack initially, to be followed up by men from Lord Strathcona's Horse. The Canadian Brigade was to attack in three separate but converging thrusts. Two squadrons of Lord Strathcona's Horse were to attack the wood on foot, with C Squadron, commanded by Lieutenant Flowerdew to make a mounted attack.
The German infantry put up strong resistance and there was a lot of hand-to-hand fighting, but by late morning the northern section of the wood had been captured by the Canadians. It was at this point that Flowerdew, with sword raised, led his men to almost certain death in a suicidal attack on two lines of the enemy, each with about sixty men and three machine-guns.
[ London Gazette, 24 April 1918 ]. Bois de Mureuil, France, 30 March 1918, Lieutenant Gordon Muriel Flowerdew, Lord Strathcona's Horse, Canadian Expeditionary Force.
For most conspicuous bravery and dash ( NE of Bois de Moreuil, France ) when in command of a squadron detailed for special service of a very important nature. On reaching the first objective, Lieutenant Flowerdew saw two lines of the enemy, each about sixty strong, with machine guns in the centre and flanks, one line being about two hundred yards behind the other.Realising the critical nature of the operation and how much depended upon it, Lieutenant Flowerdew ordered a troop under Lieutenant 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 galloped at them again. Although the squadron had then lost about 70 per cent of its numbers, 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 Lieutenant Harvey’s party. Lieutenant Flowerdew was dangerously wounded through both thighs during the operation but continued to cheer on his men. There can be no doubt that this officer’s great valour was the prime factor in the capture of the position.
In Framlingham College Chapel is the wooden cross from Flowerdew's original grave in France and citations of the three men from Framlingham who were awarded the Victoria Cross: Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew, Major William Hewitt and Captain Augustus Agar.
Medal entitlement of Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew - Lord Strathcona's Horse, Canadian Cavalry
- Victoria Cross
- 1914-15 Star
- British War Medal - ( 1914-20 )
- Victory Medal - ( 1914-19 )
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Iain Stewart, 3 February 2003