John McCrae was born on November 30th, 1872

Written by: Penelope Wildwood

The Flanders Fields Poet: John McCrae

John McCrae, a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist, and soldier, is best known for writing the iconic war memorial poem "In Flanders Fields," a poignant tribute to the fallen soldiers of World War I.

A Life of Service and Creativity

McCrae's multifaceted life was marked by a strong sense of duty, creativity, and compassion. Born on November 30, 1872, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, he was the grandson of Scottish immigrants. His father, Lieutenant Colonel David McCrae, had served with the Guelph Home Guard during the Fenian raids, and was a member of the Guelph city council and a director of The North American Life Assurance Company.

Education and Medical Career

McCrae attended the Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute and graduated from the Institute at 16. He was the first Guelph student to win a scholarship to the University of Toronto, where he was a member of the Theta Xi chapter of the Zeta Psi International Fraternity. Despite struggling with severe asthma, which would recur throughout his life, McCrae persevered and went on to study medicine.

War and Inspiration

McCrae's experience as a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium had a profound impact on him. The devastation and loss of life he witnessed inspired him to write "In Flanders Fields," a poem that would become a powerful symbol of remembrance and sacrifice. The poem's famous lines, "In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row," evoke the haunting beauty of a ravaged landscape and the ultimate sacrifice of those who fought and died.

Legacy and Impact

• McCrae was a resident master in English and Mathematics in 1894 at the Ontario Agricultural College.
• He trained as an artilleryman at Tête de Pont barracks, today's Fort Frontenac, in Kingston, Ontario.
• McCrae's brother, Dr. Thomas McCrae, became a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore and a close associate of Sir William Osler.

McCrae's personal life was marked by close relationships with his family and friends. His sister Geills married James Kilgour, a justice of the Court of Kings Bench of Manitoba, and moved to Winnipeg. He also maintained a close friendship with Laura Kains, to whom he wrote a letter in 1893, describing his life as an artilleryman.

McCrae died of pneumonia on January 28, 1918, near the end of World War I. His poem, "In Flanders Fields," has become an enduring symbol of remembrance and sacrifice, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire generations to come.