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Photo by Sir Alfred Munnings/Postmedia News

On the foggy morning of March 30, 1918, the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, one of the few Allied units not retreating from the German onslaught, was tasked with recapturing the Moreuil Wood, a forested ridge east of the French city of Amiens, a crucial railway junction that linked the British and French armies.

The brigade’s commander, Gen. J.E.B. Seely, ordered most of his units to attack through the wood dismounted, where they were quickly pinned down by intense fire. Only C Squadron of Lord Strathcona’s Horse was sent galloping around the wood from the northeast to cut off any German reinforcements.

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The commander of C squadron was a 33-year-old English-born British Columbian rancher named Lt. Gordon Muriel Flowerdew. When Flowerdew’s squadron reached the edge of the wood, they spotted on open ground a few hundred metres in front of them about 300 German infantry supported by artillery and machine guns. A seasoned cavalryman, Flowerdew immediately realized the unique opportunity that had presented itself.

“It’s a charge, boys, it’s a charge,” he bellowed and spurred his horse forward. Behind him, the 75 troopers of C squadron drew their swords and did the same.

The shocked Germans wasted no time opening fire with every weapon they had, including artillery and machine guns. Trooper Reg Longley, the squadron’s boy trumpeter, tried to sound the charge but was cut down before he could blow a note.

The squadron’s boy trumpeter was cut down before he could blow a note

With no cover available to them, the Canadians could only crouch low behind their horses’ necks and press on while comrades crashed to the ground all around. Trooper Dale, who seconds into the charge was forced to leap his horse over Longley’s body, later recalled how the sound of wounded and dying men and horses could be heard even over the bombs, bullets and pounding hooves.