BOY’S V.C. DREAM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 30 December 1932, Page 8

BOY’S V.C. DREAM

EPIC OF THE GREAT WAR EFFECT ON HISTORY. WON AT THE COST OF HIS LIFE. Major-General Seely told a remarkable story of a young boy under his command who played a “wonderful part in the greatest battle in history” was awarded the V.C. posthumously, when he spoke at a dinner of the Authors’ Club in London recently. The boy was Lieutenant Flowerdew, the Royal Canadians, son of an Eastern counties’ parson, whose glorious part in the decisive battle at Murray Ridge in the closing months of the war “possibly deflected the whole course of history.” General Seely, who was in command of the Canadians in this battle, told the story in a choking voice with tears streaming down his cheeks, and when he finished be almost collapsed in his chair. General Seely began by reading the diary of the boy, written in simple, almost boyish language. He called it “The Diary of a Gentleman at War.” “The Germans had won the war completely, definitely, and finally, on March 30, 1918, but did not know it. I think when the true history of the war is recorded, and it very soon will be, everybody will agree that it is true. ’ ’ EFFECT ON HISTORY. The diary was one of a fair-haired boy who played a part so decisive that, if Marshal Koch’s words were true, it was quite possible that this gentle, dreamy i ,y did deflect the "whole course of history. He was of middle height, athletic, charming—a typical English boy who, had joined up with the Royal Canadians. He went out with the first contingent, and came under his command. General Seely told how in conversation with the youth he asked him if he would like to get the V.C. The boy replied: “That is my dream, but I shall never be brave enough to win it.” General Seely continued to read the diary until he reached March 26, when the boy wrote: “It was a glorious battle, I shall never forget it, but still I cannot get that V.C.” General Seely added with emotion: “That is the end of the diary. I cannot tell you anything more. But I can tell you what happened the very day after that. He was killed, and got the V.C. But it was too late.” Describing a desperate hand-to-hand combat which took place in Murray Wood and the task which he had allotted to Lieutenant Flowerdew, General Seely added that in giving instructions he said to Flowerdew: “I know you will love to do it,” and he replied, “Yes, sir, I shall love to do it, and I promise you I './ill not fail.” DESPERATE FIGHTING. “I looked at him and into the wood we went. As I galloped through I heard a terrific fusilade on the German side of the wood, and my heart was heavy when 1 thought of my brave Flowerdew obviously going back in the middle of the German army.” After three-quarters of an hour of the most desperate hand-to-hand fighting he had ever encountered they captured the whole position.

“I ran forward and said to a corporal, ‘Tell me what happened to Flowerdew.’ He said, ‘Oh, sir, we should not have won without him.’ I said to him, ‘Tell me what happened.’ He said , 'Lieutenant Flowerdew galloped a hundred yards in front of us, and, waving his sword, told us to come on.’ “We went on; the Germans were advancing in single file. The moment they saw us they turned and fired. We killed a great many of them, but wherf we got through the far sice Lieutenant Flowerdew said: ‘Come back again, my lads. ’ “Lieutenant Flowerdew gave another great shout and we galloped after him. A German stood up and shot him through both thighs. Another German shot him through the chest, and his horse collapsed beneath him. He shouted out as he lay dying so loudly that all could hear: ‘Carry on, boys! We have won!’ General Seely added: "Flowrdew was dead, but he received the V.C. which he had dreamed of in his diary. Alas, it could not be presented to him; it was presented to his sister.” In the words of the official record: “There can be no doubt that this officer’s great valour was the prime factor in the capture of the position.” Machine-guns were everywhere, and a commentator, describing Lieutenant Flowerdew’s charge of the German lines, states: “It was the charge of the Light Brigade again on a smaller scale. ’’ [The act to which General Seely referred occurred during the fighting in the last great German offensive, which started on March 21, 1918.]