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Moreuil Wood

Reader John Heinrichs, captain of cavalry, observes the 89th anniversary of a great cavalry action. His regiment, Canada’s Strathconas, with a posthumous Victoria Cross. We observe it with him, and honor his regiment and their dead:   

On 30 Mar 1918, the Canadian Cavalry Brigade stopped the German Army in its tracks.

Since the start of Operation St Michael on 21 Mar 18, units of the Brigade had been engaged in continuous mounted and dismounted combat, trying to stem the tide of the German advance through the rear areas of the British Fifth Army. At the Bois de Moreuil, the lead units of the advance began preparing a position from which they could attack the main British Army logistics and communication node at Arras. The Brigade attacked the German position with all three units: Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Fort Garry Horse. Most of the Brigade fought dismounted in the Wood, but “C” Squadron LdSH(RC) was tasked to block German troops attempting to withdraw. Then came the Charge … and a Victoria Cross (posthumous) for the acting Squadron Commander.

From “The Battle of Moreuil Wood” by Captain J.R. Grodzinski, LdSH(RC):

“… Just as they reached the high ground, they found a large group of the Germans, perhaps 300 strong, retiring from the wood. They were from the 101st Grenadier Battalion that were withdrawing and other troops that were approaching. There was one howitzer and several heavy machine guns with them. In a split second, Flowerdew gave the order: “It’s a charge boys, it’s a charge!” The Trumpeter, Reg Longley, riding behind Flowerdew, raised his trumpet to blow the call, it never sounded. Longley was the first casualty of the charge. In the excitement, many of the horses simply bolted. Private Dale of 4th Troop, riding behind Longley, had to jump over the trumpeter. He recalled that everything seemed unreal, “the shouting of men, the moans of the wounded, the pitiful crying of the wounded and dying horses….” It was difficult to recall what happened and when. ‘C’ Squadron approached the Germans with sabres raised; sabres against rifles and machine guns. They rode into two lines of Germans. Steel cut into flesh; bayonets and bullets answered. Casualties were high on both sides. Once the two lines were passed, the surviving horsemen turned back toward the wood. There, through the smoke and enemy was Harvey and his men. The survivors fought furiously to get back to them. Sergeant Tom MacKay, MM, the Troop Sergeant of 1st Troop was acting troop leader since Lieutenant Harrower was on patrol. The flesh was practically stripped between the knees and thighs of both his legs. The doctors later counted some 59 wounds in one leg alone.

“Sergeant Wooster also of 1st Troop, survived charging through both lines of Germans but at the second line forgot his sabre drill, and tried to club a German soldier to death. …

“‘C’ Squadron likely had 100 men available on 30 March. It provided an Officer Patrol of one subaltern and an unknown number of other ranks, and 2nd Troop under Harvey, remained in the wood during the charge. Assuming that this troop had a strength of 25 all ranks, no more than 75 soldiers could have charged. Seventy-five against 300 Germans. With 24 killed, this leaves 51 survivors including wounded.

Approximately 15 more would die from wounds in the next few weeks.”

“… The Canadian Cavalry Brigade had suffered many casualties. Many of the horses were dead. The Dragoons lost one officer, 19 other ranks killed, three officers and 48 other ranks wounded and 22 missing. The Fort Garry Horse had one killed, one officer and 36 other ranks wounded and three missing. In the Strathcona’s “A” Squadron had nine killed, “B” Squadron eleven, Signal Troop one, and “C” Squadron 24, for a total of 45; 120 were wounded. The Machine Gun Squadron had eight wounded and the Field Ambulance one. Total killed, wounded and missing for the Brigade were 305 all ranks. German casualties are uncertain, but were great enough to stop them from taking any further action until the next day.”

Extracts from http://www.strathconas.ca/pdf_files/the_battle_of_moreuil_wood.pdf Citation for Gordon Muriel Flowerdew, V.C.:

“For most conspicuous bravery and dash 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 about two hundred yards behind the other. Realizing the critical nature of the operation and how many depended upon it, Lieutenant Flowerdew ordered a troop under Lieutenant Harvey 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 percent of its number, 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 then established themselves in a position, where later 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.
From: http://www.strathconas.ca/bmenu_awards.php

Topics: Uncategorized

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:42 am on Friday, March 30, 2007

3 Responses to “Moreuil Wood”

1. Old War Dogs Says:
   March 30th, 2007 at 1:50 am

   Bill’s Nibbles // Open Post — 2007.03.30

   Please feel free to use this post for comments and trackbacks not related to other posts on the site. If you leave a trackback your post must include a link to this one and, as always, comments claiming the sun

2. Bill's Bites Says:
   March 30th, 2007 at 1:50 am

   Bill’s Nibbles // Open Post — 2007.03.30

   Please feel free to use this post for comments and trackbacks not related to other posts on the site. If you leave a trackback your post must include a link to this one and, as always, comments claiming the sun

3. bdfaith Says:
   March 30th, 2007 at 2:03 am

   Atten-hut! No-o-rth face! Ha-an-nd salute!

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