Military service
Age:
45
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Force:
Army
Unit/Regiment:
Canadian Army Medical Corps
Division:
No. 3 (McGill) Canadian General Hospital
Birth:
November 30, 1872
Guelph, Ontario
Death:
January 28, 1918
Boulogne, France
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
IV. H. 3.
Additional information
John McCrae was the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel David McCrae and Janet Simpson Eckford McCrae. He had a sister, Geills, and a brother, Tom.
John McCrae began writing poetry while a student at the Guelph Collegiate Institute. As a young boy, he was also interested in the military. He joined the Highfield Cadet Corps at 14 and at 17 enlisted in the Militia field battery commanded by his father.
The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae's closest friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves. Unable to help his friend or any of the others who had died, John McCrae gave them a voice through his poem. It was the second last poem he was to write.
On January 28, 1918, after an illness of five days, he died of pneumonia and meningitis. The day he fell ill, he learned he had been appointed consulting physician to the First British Army, the first Canadian so honoured.
Commemorated at the John McCrae Secondary School, Remember Flanders Ottawa and Remember Flanders Guelph.
Additional citations
Queen's South Africa Medal with Clasps, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Digital gallery of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
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Photo of John McCrae
From: The Varsity Magazine Supplement Fourth Edition 1918 published by The Students Administrative Council, University of Toronto. Submitted for the Soldiers' Tower Committee, University of Toronto, by Operation Picture Me. -
Statue
A sculpture of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, by Ruth Abernathy, was unveiled at Green Island, Ottawa, Ontario in May 2015. A copy was erected at the Guelph Civic Museum in Guelph, Ontario in 2015. The sculpture is of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, with his dress as an Artillery officer and his medical bag nearby, as he writes. The statue shows the destruction of the battlefield and, at his feet, the poppies which are a symbol of Remembrance of World War I and all armed conflict since. -
Advanced Dressing Station
Boezinge, Ypres, Belgium. Advanced Dressing Station -
Advanced Dressing Station Memorial
Boezinge, Ypres, Belgium. Advanced Dressing Station. -
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow<br> Between the crosses, row on row,<br> That mark our place; and in the sky<br> The larks, still bravely singing, fly<br> Scarce heard amid the guns below.<p> We are the Dead. Short days ago<br> We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,<br> Loved, and were loved, and now we lie<br> In Flanders fields.<p> Take up our quarrel with the foe:<br> To you from failing hands we throw<br> The torch, be yours to hold it high.<br> If ye break faith with us who die<br> We shall not sleep, though poppies grow<br> In Flanders fields<p> "In Flanders Fields" was first published in England's "Punch" magazine in December, 1915. Within months, this poem came to symbolize the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War. Today, the poem continues to be a part of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada and other countries. -
McCrae Family Photo
John McCrae on left, with his mother, brother Tom and sister Geills (photo: McCrae House) -
John McCrae
Born in Guelph, Ontario, on November 30, 1872, John McCrae was the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel David McCrae and Janet Simpson Eckford McCrae. -
Reading
Reading was one of John McCrae's favourite pastimes. (photo: McCrae House) -
Bonfire
John McCrae with his horse Bonfire, (photo: McCrae House). In France, he took with him a horse named Bonfire, a gift from a friend. Later, John McCrae sent his young nieces and nephews letters supposedly written by Bonfire and signed with a hoof print. -
Bonneau
John McCrae and his dog Bonneau in France (photo: National Archives of Canada, C46284). Bonneau was another of his animal companions and was also a casualty of the war, who had adopted John McCrae as his special friend. -
The Flower of Remembrance
Before he died, John McCrae had the satisfaction of knowing that his poem had been a success. Soon after its publication, it became the most popular poem on the First World War. It was translated into many languages and used on billboards advertising the sale of the first Victory Loan Bonds in Canada in 1917. Designed to raise $150,000,000, the campaign raised $400,000,000.<br> In part because of the poem's popularity, the poppy was adopted as the Flower of Remembrance for the war dead of Britain, France, the United States, Canada and other Commonwealth countries. -
McCrae museum and memorial cenotaph
The home of John McCrae and his family in Guelph, Ontario, has been preserved and is now a museum. A memorial cenotaph and garden of remembrance is also open to the public (photo: Ken Barton). -
Medals
Left to right: Queen's South Africa Medal with Clasps, 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal. The medals shown in this picture are from the Canadian Military Medals and Decorations section of the Veterans Affairs Canada website. -
Attestation Paper (front)
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was born in Guelph, Ontario, on November 30, 1872. -
Attestation Paper (back)
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Grave marker
John McCrae's Grave in France. -
Wimereux Communal Cemetery
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Honour Roll
From the "University of Toronto / Roll of Service 1914-1918", published in 1921. -
Photo of John McCrae
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Commemorative plaque
This plaque is dedicated to Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, whose death inspired the 'Flanders Fields' poem. -
Newspaper Clipping
Portrait of Lt. Alexis H. Helmer, who inspired the McCrae poem. From the "McGill Honour Roll, 1914-1918". McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, 1926. -
Memorial Plaque
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Gravemarker
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Grave Marker
Photo submitted by Joseph Thomas Stopped in on way to Juno Beach. -
Memorial
The Clan MacRae Honour Roll, located at Eilean Donan Castle, the home of the Clan Macrae, near the town of Dornie on Loch Duich in Western Scotland; listing Lieutenant Colonel McCrae's name (column 5, 14th name from bottom) and including a quote from his poem "In Flanders Fields." -
Stained Glass Window
A stained glass memorial window at St. Andrew’s Church, 161 Norfolk St., Guelph, ON is dedicated to First World War soldiers. It was erected by St. Andrew’s Church. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE BECAUSE I LIVE, YE SHALL LIVE ALSO IN MEMORIAM: THOMAS RUSSELL ALEX M. DUNBAR DOUGLAS C. RUSSELL JOHN MCCRAE WILLIAM SMITH DONALD P. GIBSON GEORGE W. MORROW LORNE WALKER R. HOWARD TILL GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS" Photo Credit: Kathleen Wall http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=4435 -
Plaque
A stained glass memorial window at St. Andrew’s Church, 161 Norfolk St., Guelph, ON is dedicated to Lieut.-Col and Mrs. David McCrae and son John McCrae. It was erected by St. Andrews Church. "TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THE REVERED FAMILY OF LIEUT.-COL. AND MRS DAVID MCCRAE WHO FOR MANY YEARS WORSHIPPED IN THIS PEW AND THEIR ILLUSTRIOUS SON LIEUT.-COL. JOHN MCCRAE PHYSICIAN, SOLDIER AND AUTHOR OF ‘IN FLANDERS FIELDS’." http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=4437 Photo Credit: Kathleen Wall -
Newspaper Clipping
PUNCH London England 1915 Dec 8. First publication of 'In Flanders Fields', written in Belgium seven months earlier. By Dec. 29 issue, it is indexed as the work of Lt. Col. John McCrae. -
Memorial
This statue is located on Green Island, Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario. -
Memorial
Tribute to John McCrae in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Guelph Ontario. Photo by Ken Riley -
Grave marker
John McCrae's as I found it in June 2011, surrounded by tributes, as it usually is at any time of the year. -
Circumstances of Death Registers
Circumstances of Death- Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae -
Memorial
McGill University, Anatomy and Dentistry building, stained glass memorial window to 3 McGill doctors, Montreal -
Aid Station Monument
Aid Station Monument -
Plaque
Aid Station Monument bronzed poem -
Aid Station
Aid Station where he authored In Flanders Fields -
Plaque
Bronzed plaque of original poem paper -
Grave Marker
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Grave marker
10 August 2019, CEFRG (Canadian Expeditionary Force Research Group), cefrg.ca -
Honour roll
Eugene Bourgoin's War memorial tablet bas relief, "Our members and everyone who lost their lives in the Great War", photo from in the McCord Museum -
Newspaper clipping
Middle row 2nd from left. From the Globe (Toronto newspaper c.1902) Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Globe (Toronto newspaper c.1902) Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Globe (Toronto newspaper c.1902) Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Photo of John McCrae
This memorial in Beaconsfield, QC is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, best known as the author of the poem “In Flanders Fields”. -
Newspaper clipping
From the Vancouver Daily Province February 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Vancouver Daily Province February 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Biography
A biographical sketch of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea, Canadian Army Medical Corps, prepared in 1951 by the Director of War Service Records. -
Photo of John McCrae
John McCrae petting a dog. -
Memorial
A tribute to Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, displayed on the wall of a principal hallway in the Medical Sciences Building, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto. McCrae was educated at the University of Toronto, at both University College and the Faculty of Medicine. (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2024.) -
Memorial
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Memorial
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 454 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France
Wimereux is a small town situated about 5 kilometres north of Boulogne. From Boulogne take the A16 to Calais and come off at Junction 4. Take the road to Wimereux north, D242, for approximately 2 kilometres, following the road through the roundabout. Take the first turn on the left immediately after the roundabout and the WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY lies approximately 200 metres down this road on the left hand side. The Commonwealth War Graves are situated to the rear of the communal cemetery.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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