The Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew Plaque was erected by the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, Government of Saskatchewan in 1995.
Gordon Muriel Flowerdew was born in Billingford, England on 2 January 1885. As a young man, he came to Saskatchewan in 1903, and later moved to British Columbia. During the First World War he was commissioned as an officer in Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians).
On 30 March 1918 near Moreuil Wood in France, Lieutenant Flowerdew, leading “C” Squadron of the Strathconas, saw two lines of German infantry positions supported by machine guns, one line about two hundred metres behind the other. Flowerdew ordered the squadron to charge. The Canadian cavalrymen passed over both of the German lines, killing many of the enemy with their swords. Wheeling about, Flowerdew led “C” Squadron back over the lines again, which caused the Germans to break and retire. At this point, the squadron had suffered 70 per cent casualties in the charge, including Flowerdew who had been badly wounded. Nevertheless, the survivors managed to establish themselves in the positions formerly held by the enemy, and were able to hold them. Unfortunately,Flowerdew died of his wounds the following day.
Lieutenant Flowerdew’s spirited leadership on this occasion was honoured with the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross.
