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26 NOVEMBER 2011 – MUSEUM ACQUIRES ‘SNIPE’ MEDAL
GROUP
Members of the Flower family after the medals’
presentation, with the Chairman of the Museum Trustees
(second right)
The Museum Trustees are delighted to report the
acquisition of the medal group of Lieutenant-Colonel R.
A. Flower OBE MC of The Rifle Brigade.
Dick Flower is especially well remembered for the
Military Cross he received for his actions as the
carrier platoon commander in C Company, 2nd Battalion,
The Rifle Brigade (2 RB), at ‘Snipe’ in the early
morning of 27 October 1942 during the Battle of El
Alamein.
The citation for his Military Cross reads:
On the night of 26th/27th October, 1942, Capt R.A.
Flower was in command of a carrier platoon at the Snipe
position.
At 0100 hrs on the 27th his platoon was ordered forward
through a gap in an enemy minefield to carry out a
reconnaissance. The platoon went forward 2,000 yards,
overran a strong infantry position, and took some
prisoners.
Capt. Flower then attacked a tank leaguer of forty enemy
tanks from 200 yards’ range, setting fire to three
vehicles and causing the leaguer to disperse. He was
then heavily engaged at close range by the tanks, one
carrier being knocked out. He withdrew his platoon
slowly in front of the advancing tanks.
At 0900 hrs Capt Flower’s platoon was ordered to patrol
the south flank of Snipe threatened by an infantry
attack. He attacked and dispersed the enemy infantry
forming up to attack and inflicted many casualties.
Two enemy guns coming into action were also destroyed;
the platoon continued to engage the enemy on the flank
until all ammunition was expended and four carriers had
been knocked out.
Throughout these actions Capt Flower’s personal coolness
and courage were of the highest order and his fine
offensive handling of his platoon played a large part in
enabling his Battalion to hold its position.
| The Museum now owns eight out of the 21 gallantry medals
awarded to members of 2 RB for their actions at ‘Snipe’
including the Victoria Cross awarded to
Lieutenant-Colonel ‘Vic’ Turner and the Distinguished
Conduct Medal awarded to Sergeant (later Lieutenant)
C.V. Calistan.
The Museum also owns the miniature medals
of Captain (later Major) F.W. Marten, the Adjutant of 2
RB, whose actions at ‘Snipe’ contributed to his receipt
of a Military Cross and whose full-size medals were
stolen during his lifetime and never replaced.
The Museum Trustees are most grateful to members of the
Flower family and especially his son, Christopher, and
daughter, Angela, for making it possible for the Museum
to acquire their father’s medals.
The medals were handed over at a small ceremony in the
Museum on 26 November attended by members of the Flower
family and the Chairman of the Museum Trustees,
Lieutenant-General Sir Christopher Wallace. |
Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Flower (left) with
Lieutenant-Colonel Vic Turner VC at the Green
Jackets
Depot, Winchester, c. 1960 |
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R.A. FlOWER OBE MC
Dick Flower joined The London Rifle Brigade (TA) in 1938
and was later commissioned in The Rifle Brigade. He was
posted to 2 RB and served with the Battalion throughout
their time in the Western Desert and Italy from 1940-44,
becoming a major in command of A Company. In 1945 he
assumed a staff appointment in HQ Eighth Army.
Dick Flower remained in the Army after the war serving
both at regimental duty and on the staff, including at
General Headquarters East Africa from 1955-56 during the
Mau Mau Emergency in Kenya. His last appointment, in the
rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, was Deputy Commander of the
Green Jackets Depot at Winchester from 1959-61, for
which he was awarded an OBE in 1962.
On retirement from the Army he became a director of the
Bass-Charrington brewery group, but suffered
increasingly from ill-health. He died in 1993, aged 67.
During his war service, Dick Flower earned a reputation
for being singularly imperturbable, resourceful and
determined in attacking the enemy, resulting in the
award of a Mention in Despatches as well as a Military
Cross. |
Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Flower, c. 1960
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Dick’s brother, Lieutenant P.E. (Phillip) Flower, was
killed at El Wishka during the Battle of El Alamein on
25 October 1942 while serving with 7th Battalion, The
Rifle Brigade. His platoon sergeant, Sergeant R.M.
Jones, who assumed command of the platoon, was awarded a
Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry on that
day – see
News Entry dated 7 April 2009>>
Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Flower’s medals. From L
to R: OBE, MC, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star 1940-43
with clasp ‘8th Army’, Italy Star 1943-45,
Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal with Mention in
Despatches, Africa General Service Medal
1899-1956 with clasp ‘Kenya’, Territorial
Efficiency Medal |
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