Background In Flanders Fields

lieutenant colonel john mccrae soldier, physician , poet.

john mccrae poet , physician guelph, ontario. developed interest in poetry @ young age , wrote throughout life. earliest works published in mid-1890s in canadian magazines , newspapers. mccrae s poetry focused on death , peace followed.

at age of 41, mccrae enrolled canadian expeditionary force following outbreak of first world war. had option of joining medical corps because of training , age volunteered instead join fighting unit gunner , medical officer. second tour of duty in canadian military. had fought volunteer force in second boer war. considered himself soldier first; father military leader in guelph , mccrae grew believing in duty of fighting country , empire.

mccrae fought in second battle of ypres in flanders region of belgium, german army launched 1 of first chemical attacks in history of war. attacked french positions north of canadians chlorine gas on april 22, 1915 unable break through canadian line, held on 2 weeks. in letter written mother, mccrae described battle nightmare ,

for seventeen days , seventeen nights none of have had our clothes off, nor our boots even, except occasionally. in time while awake, gunfire , rifle fire never ceased sixty seconds.... , behind constant background of sights of dead, wounded, maimed, , terrible anxiety lest line should give way.

alexis helmer, close friend, killed during battle on may 2. mccrae performed burial service himself, @ time noted how poppies grew around graves of died @ ypres. next day, composed poem while sitting in of ambulance @ advanced dressing station outside ypres. location today known john mccrae memorial site.