John McCrae Biography | Military Doctor and Poet

Lieut. Colonel (Doctor) John McCrae

Born: November 30, 1872
Died: January 28, 1918
Place of Birth: Guelph, Ontario

He received a scholarship to attend the University of Toronto when he was only 16 years old.
McCrae served in both the South African War and World War I.
At the start of WWI, was appointed Brigade Surgeon to the First Brigade of the Canadian Forces Artillery with the rank of Major.
McCrae served as Brigade Surgeon in the field station at the 2nd Battle of Ypres.
He wrote several medical text books and poems for various magazines.
His best known poem, "In Flanders Fields", was published in 1915.
The above is probably the best known poem to be written about war.
His poem was inspired by the death of his friend Lt. Alexis Helmer.
In 1917, he had severe bouts of asthma and bronchitis.
He died of pneumonia and meningitis while on active duty in the hospital he was responsible for.
McCrae was the first Canadian assigned as consulting physician to the First British Army.

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