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Heroism and Death Though not as deadly as fighting in the air, the battle on the ground was
still extremely dangerous, dirty and, often times, senseless. For the average
trench soldier the chance of being killed was about one in four; of being wounded,
about two in four, and many wounds led to infection and death. The military leadership
seemed to take a long time to adapt to the new realities of war and in the meantime,
thousands and thousands of soldiers were marched directly into enemy fire, dying
in droves. Carnage, not glory, was the reality of the war.
Somehow, amid the senseless slaughter, there were remarkable acts of heroism.
In all, 70 Victoria Crosses, Canada’s highest military honour, were awarded,
many of them posthumously. One such recipient was Piper James Cleland Richardson
of the 16th Battalion who earned his V.C. at the Somme, where he died on October
9, 1916. Richardson, only 20 years old, piped the men over the top. When the
charge stalled agains heavy fire, the line |
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began to break down. Richardson bravely strode up and down
the line coolly playing the pipes. Inspired by his bravery, the men resumed the
fight and captured the position. At the end of the battle, Richardson was escorting
prisoners and wounded men back to the line when he realized he had forgotten
his bagpipes. Against all advice, he went back to retrieve his instrument and
was never seen again. Presumed killed in battle, he was awarded the V.C. posthumously.
Similarly, Lt. Gordon M. Flowerdew was awarded the V.C. after his heroic efforts
in the Battle of Moreuil Wood in Northern France. Flowerdew was a member of the
cavalry in Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians). Though the trench
warfare of the First World War left little chance for heroics on horseback, this
incident saw Flowerdew lead a charge against two enemy lines, each about 60 strong.
Riding directly into machine-gun fire, Flowerdew and his men used their swords
to kill many Germans, then, despite heavy casualties, came back around and charged
the lines again. |
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Lt. Gordon. M. Flowerdew,
Victoria Cross Recipient.
Lt. Flowerdew, who died at 33, and other young men like
him, exhibited extraordinary personal bravery and self-sacrifice in a war that
forever changed the face of soldiering. |
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