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.