The Greatest Canadian : John McCrae The Greatest Soldier, Doctor and Poet The Greatest Soldier, Doctor and Poet Author : Adalia Yang

Who Was John McCrae ? born on November 30, 1872, Guelph, Ontario became involved in the military life that his father was devoted to suffered through his life living with asthma grandson of Thomas McCrae who emigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1849 son of David McCrae and Janet Eckford famous for his medical skills as a doctor/physician, his dedication and commitment to his military role as lieutenant-colonel and his marvellous writings as a poet

Education at the age of 12, he was enrolled at Guelph Collegiate Institute for his high school education at the age of 16, John enrolled at University of Toronto where his older brother, Thomas was already attending they joined Varsity Glee Club, Zeta Psi Fraternity, and played on the varsity rugby team together continued to study at U of T after his undergraduate studies to study medicine worked at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland to practice his studies as well with many of the best doctors and medical teachers in the world

Military Involvement involved in militia units in Guelph and Toronto volunteered for service as a member of the Royal Canadian Artillery served in the South African War in 1899 when Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, McCrae was on a ship bound for England as a soldier or doctor in return, he was appointed surgeon in the 1st Brigade Artillery and soon returned to Montreal to prepare for his duty was soon newly promoted to lieutenant colonel, and his duties were to treat soldier’s wounds at the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium in a letter he wrote to his mother during the war, he said, “I am rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience”

“In Flanders Fields...” John McCrae was the phenomenal author to this poem we recite it every Remembrance Day till to this day May 2, 1915, 22-year-old, Lt. Alexis Helmer was a Canadian solider in position along one of the canals during the Second Battle of Ypres, then a German shell exploded right at his feet, killing him instantly Helmer’s death inspired McCrae to write “In Flanders Fields” the next day in his dugout, when he was waiting for wounded soldiers to arrive in the last verse of the poem, it calls upon the living to join the war effort so that Helmer and millions like him may not have been perished in vain it was first published in the British magazine Punch in Dec 1915

Medical Achievements after the South African War, he worked in Montreal for 4 years on the advanced medical studies he had postponed served as a visiting professor of Pathology at the University of Vermont until 1911 in Montreal, he was appointed an associate of medicine at the Royal Victoria Hospital and was also a great lecturer at McGill University, educating future doctors worked as a pathologist at Montreal General Hospital worked as a doctor for the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases and for his own private practice served as a doctor and a surgeon throughout WWI and made the most contributions in helping thousands of soldiers during the battle of Ypres transferred to No.3 Canadian Field Hospital in France as Chief of Medical Services

Significance He Brought To Canada and the World appointed surgeon in the 1st Brigade Artillery, but then was promoted to lieutenant- colonel to treat soldier’s wounds at the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium as he served primarily as a surgeon, he also contributed greatly towards artillery operations moved to the No.3 Canadian Field Hospital in France, and was Chief of Medical Services he helped mend thousands of wounded and he tried sending back as many soldiers as possible back to England for further recuperation for possible return to action the first Canadian to be appointed consulting doctor to the First British Army or even to serve any position the Canadian soldier, doctor and poet wrote the poem, “In Flanders Fields” which still inspires millions to this day introduced the Scarlet Corn Poppy and became the symbol of life and freedom throughout the world

How The Great McCrae Died... on January 25, he was moved from No.3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, to the officer’s hospital in Wimereux, France and was diagnosed with pneumonia and meningitis the clouds of chlorine gas at Ypres years before had no doubt weakened his asthmatic lungs only 3 days after becoming so ill, John lost consciousness and he died in the early morning hours of January 28, 1918 died at the age of 46 the day he fell ill, it was the day when he was appointed consulting physician to the First British Army, the first Canadian ever buried in Wimereux Cemetery north of Boulogne, not far from the fields of Flanders

Appreciation John McCrae Senior Public School John McCrae Public School from JK-8 located in Markham French Immersion John McCrae Public School first opened in 1952 named after him because of his sensitive reflection on war and peace and the poem in Flanders Fields grades JK-6 French Immersion Guelph, Ontario John lived and was born in their community first opened in 1969 motto : “With Courage” grades 7-8 Scarborough, ON Toronto District School Board