Who is Lt. Col. John McCrae?

In Flanders Fields” is one of the most famous poems about the First World War. The poem was written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae in 1915. While remembered for his poetry, McCrae was also a doctor and a soldier.

John McCrae was born in 1872 in Guelph, Ontario. Historical records describe McCrae as an animal lover, a loyal friend with a keen sense of humour, and a talented physician. He was a dedicated student who received a bachelor’s degree (1894) and a medical degree (1898) from the University of Toronto. Many of McCrae’s early poems and writings were published in the 1890s, while he was a student.

In 1899, he was awarded a fellowship in pathology at McGill University. McCrae postponed his acceptance of the fellowship to enlist in the Royal Canadian Artillery during the South African War. When the First World War began in 1914, McCrae enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, he witnessed horrific casualties. In response, McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields.”

Lt. Col. John McCrae died in 1918, from pneumonia and meningitis, at the age of 45.

 

Exploring the McCrae Collection

This Finding Aid (linked below) is an introduction to the McCrae collection at Guelph Museums. Learn more about Lt. Col. John McCrae’s life. Explore the collection. The Finding Aid offers further resources and information for anyone wishing to learn more McCrae’s life and legacy.

The McCrae collection at Guelph Museums holds 1440 photographs, objects, and archival documents that dive into the history and legacy of Lt. Col. John McCrae, his family, his life, and the memory he left behind.

Click here to see the whole collection.

Feature Image: John McCrae and Bonneau the Dog in France, circa 1916, M1968.37.1.1