The Huron Expositor, 1987-11-04, Page 98A - THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER. '4, 1987
THE JOHN MCCRAE HOME In Guelph was made a historical site in recognition of the
man who penned In Flanders Fields, and as a place to rerhembe'r thepen of war,
Mcllwraith photo.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS, a poem written.by Lt. -Col, John McCrae pays homage to'
soldiers everywhere. Mcllwraith photo.
, "a z.1„ty an 1913 Wiiir, Nit ,sOt r sa
.io flit .ar ;1,aTR t..ry, Bu ,'41.' 6£ t,+'tra
itf:-t,, molts vo-M'1y 1'L:k'.,t;E#� Fritrs ttz
i,itkmr ,;e x Yika.; ra Ara;:. 1915
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Speak not of battles.
won or lost
But remember those
who fought for you!
T.J. DEVEREAUX Chiropractor
77 Main Street Seaforth 527-1242
UNITED
IN
REMEMBRANCE
THE ROYAL CANADIAN
• LEGION
Branch 156 Seaforth
PRESIDENT JIM WATSON
.col,. ICH'. it:C':? tz
'4 fame is IT rt,t$ tT451. IMP,.
tit:C3 r>> vazcas t¢ i4 vo,•,.at rt.e 1872
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L-"t14,.an. ttorls r t- pvt.tRrt.ex.
IN FLANDER'S FIELD,
THE POPPIES
GROW .. .
TREME.ER COMMERCIAL PRINTERS
AND OFFICE SUPPLY
Seaforth 527-1640
THEY WILL NOT
RE
FORGOTTEN!
SEAFORTH FINANCIAL SERVICES
DOUG HARRY
ELLIOTT ' DEN HAAN
SEAFORTH, 5i'-0426
rk
v
7
THEIR SACRIFICE
IS
OUR ANSWER
JAMES ETUE INSURANCE
527-0720
Main St.
Seaforth
McCrae's poem
In Flander's Fields_
penned in dugout
Lt. -Col. John McCrae is perhaps best
known for the poem "In Flanders Field",
which he wrote in 20 minutes early one mor-
ning in April 1915 during World War I. He
was in a dugout near Ypres at the, time.
The poem, which is recited each
November 11, Remembrance Day, gained
popularity on both sides of the ocean, but
Mr. McCrae also was known as,a doctor and
soldier.
He was born in Guelph on November 30,
1872, to David McCrae, a keen militia of-
ficer, and Janet McCrae, the daughter of a
' Presbyterian minister.
Influenced by his father, Mr. McCrae
became interested in the military and
became a meinber of the Highland Cadet
Cows' in Guelphh. Later, when he.was in his
teens he joined the militia Held battery com-
manded by his father.
He was also interested in medicine and
after studying biology at the University of
Toronto took a degree m medicine. He also
received the gold medal for outstanding
achievement in 1898, his graduating year.
• Mr. Mcerae's first medical appointment
•was as resident house officer at Toronto
General Hospital. The following year he ac-
cepted a similar position at John Hopkins
Hospital in Baltimore. "
Upon his return to Canada, Mr. McCrae
was offered a fellowshipin pathology at
McGill University in Montreal. He asked for
it to be deferred a year to enable him to
serve in the South African war.
When World War I began, Mr. McCrae
again enlisted. He was promoted to
lieutenant -colonel in the Canadian Army
Medical Corps before dying of pneumonia
and meningitis January 28, 1918, at age 45.
He is buried outside Boulogne in a military
.graveyard.
Today his boyhood home stands as a
memorial to the poet, doctor and soldier.
Mary Jane Roberts, curator of the home
said David and Janet McCrae moved to the
home shortly after their marriage in 1870.
John was born there in 1872.
"The family lived here for almost four
years before moving' away," she said.
The property changed hands several
times before being made into a memorial
garden in 1946 by the Royal Canadian
Legion, local Col: John McCrae "branch.
The house remained a private home until
1966; when it was acquired by the Lt. -Col.
.John MeCrae Birthplace Society, Skilled by
Guelph citizens to save the historic building
from demolition. The society handed over
the ownership to the city m 198:4
The quaint cottage, built of local
limestone, features a historic bedrobtri tad
kitchen, a museum with numerous display'
cases containitig memorabilia and'a khan
gift shop. Located at the corner of Water
Street and McCrae Avenue in Guelph, it is
open to the public daily from 1 to 5 p m. Itis
cjosed Saturdays from Labor Day tiiroiigh
May 31, Christmas, New Years Day and
Good Friday.
NOVEMBER 11,
REMEMBER ..
Owned & Operated by
BRUCE WILBEE
& FAMILY .
AT THE GOING.
DOWN OF THE
SUN_.:-:. •
AND IN THE
MORNING TWE SHALL
REMEIVIRER THEM .
Ltd i gllEt ` :�l
ay. 1,;ZAKIA