A sketch by John McCrae (1872 – 1918) Canadian poet, writer, artist, army officer and physician

I am very grateful to Tammy of the Guelph Museums for her help in finding artwork by John McCrae

John McCrae, who was born on 30th November 1872 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. was the second son of David McCrae, a woollen manufacturer, and Janet Simpson Eckford. 

He became an officer in the Canadian Royal Artillery and served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, as well as in the First World War on the Western front.  

John, who was among the first of the Canadian contingent to go to France, died on 28th January 1918 in Boulogne, France, held the rank of Major and Brigade Surgeon (he was also unofficially second in command) of the 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. 

In June 1915 John McCrae left the artillery brigade to become Lieutenant-Colonel in charge of medicine at No.3 Canadian General Hospital, an army hospital in France, staffed by friends and colleagues from his Alma Mater McGill University. On 24th Jannuary 1918, John was appointed consulting physician to the 1st British army - the first Canadian to be so honoured. He did not live to appreciate the distinction because he died four days later of pneumonia and meningitis. He was buried with full military honours in the cemetery at Wimereux, France. 

As I am sure you all know, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s famous poem “In Flanders Fields” was the inspiration behind the use of the red poppy as a universal symbol of remembrance.

Here are links to further examples of his art work in their collection sent to me by the Guelph Museum

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/45D365BD-1DD2-491E-857A-333281262539

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/B962FF64-D543-4487-BD2F-366223251682

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/F5CCA373-F10C-494E-B098-343622037720

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/862D6548-ED5D-4CDD-BCD3-323915536432

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/4DE51DE4-620C-48ED-9E42-635872418500

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/47359386-42D5-4D13-9461-102672545773

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/C0EB7C1D-754C-4A6F-A308-654112459090

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/5908D67D-08B5-425B-88D9-527546718780

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/28C95827-3EF3-4795-8430-412648348467

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/archive/4CE61AD8-4086-4E7C-B692-126324185775

https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/0ADE07EE-F558-44D8-82F5-344184290941

"Trenches on the Somme by Canadian artist

Mary Riter Hamilton

"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row, 

That mark our place, and in the sky, 

The larks, still bravely singing, fly, 

Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the dead; short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe! 

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high! 

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

John Laviers Wheatley ARA (1892 – 1955) - British artist, art teacher and museum director

John was born on 23rd January 1892.  He studied art and was taught by Stanhope Forbes and Walter Sickert before going on to study at the Slade School of Art.  

John served in the Artists' Rifles during the First World War and later was designated an official war artist. The British War Memorials Committee appointed John to record the work of the Royal Navy in British home ports. 

He served as a war artist in both World Wars. 

After the end of WW1, John went to South Africa to become Director of the National Gallery and was a Professor at the University of Cape Town. John returned to Britain in 1937 and became Director of the City Art Galleries, Sheffield, and later became Curator of the National Gallery of British Sports and Pastimes.

A  portrait of WW1 soldier poet Edward Thomas, with whom John served in the Artists Rifles.

Divers at Work Repairing a Torpedoed Ship (1918) (Art.IWM ART 2245)

by John Laviers Wheatley

Horace Pippin (1888 - 1946) - American artist

Horace Pippin (February 22, 1888 – July 6, 1946) was a self-taught American artist who painted a range of themes, including scenes inspired by his service in WW1, landscapes, portraits and biblical subjects. 

During the First World War, Horace served in K Company, the 3rd Battalion of the 369th infantry regiment, known because of their bravery in battle as the famous Harlem Hellfighters.  They were transferred to the command of the French Army and were the longest serving U.S. regiment during the conflict. The entire Regiment was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. 

In September 1918, Horace was shot in the right shoulder by a German sniper.  The injury initially cost him the use of his arm and always limited his range of motion. He was honorably discharged in 1919 and was retroactively awarded a Purple Heart for his combat injury in 1945.

Taling about his war-time experiences, Horace said “I did not care what or where I went. I asked God to help me, and he did so. And that is the way I came through that terrible and Hellish place. For the whole entire battlefield was hell, so it was no place for any human being to be.”

After the war, Horace created four memoirs - one of which he illustrated - describing the horrors of his military service. He returned to war subjects periodically throughout the 1930s and 1940s, and later said that WWI "brought out all the art in me".

With thanks to my dear friend Margaret for bringing Horace Pippin to my attention 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Pippin

"The Ending of the War" by Horace Pippin

Paintings:  Self portrait; Three Soldiers on March and The Ending of the War by Horace Pippin

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Pippin