BOY WHO WON THE V.C.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 25, 27 December 1932, Page 7

BOY WHO WON THE V.C.

GENERAL SEELY’S STORY. At a dinner at the Authors’ Club in London on November 14 MajorGeneral J. E. B. Seely told the story of a boy under his command who was awarded the V.C. posthumously for valour in Murray Wood on March 30, 1918. He was Lieutenant Flowerdew, of the Royal Canadians, son of an Eastern Counties parson. General Seely read tlie boy’s diary till he reached March 26, when he wrote: “It was a glorious battle, I shall never forget it, but still I cannot get that V.C.” General Seely added that that was the end of the diary. The next day he was killed and got the V.C., which was handed to liis sister. 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 said that as he galloped through he heard a terrific fusillade on the German side of the wood and his heart was heavy when he thought of Flowerdew obviously going back into 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. A corporal said to him, “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 when we got through the far side Lieu--tenant Flowerdew said, ‘Come back again, my lads.’ We cnnie back, so that we might get to the eastern side of the wood. Lieutenant ■ Flowerdew gave another great shout and we galloped after him. A German stood up and shot him through both sides. 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, wo have won.’ ”