1. Piece together John McCrae’s story
Use historical sources to discover details of his life
Image in the public domain

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3. Canadian Attestation Paper, Page 1
Image uploaded for educational purposes, all rights reserved
Copyright Library & Archives Canada

4. Transcript of Canadian Attestation Paper– Page 1
Name
John McCrae
Town of birth
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Next of kin
Janet Eckford McCrae
Address of Next of Kin
211 Paisley Street, Guelph, Ontario
Date of birth
November 30th 1872
Trade
Physician
Married? No
Willing to be vaccinated?
Yes
Ever served in any Military Force?
Canadian Militia Artillery 1889 to 1904
‘D’ Battery, R[oyal] C[anadian] A[rtillery] 1900
Understand nature and terms?
Willing to serve in Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force?

5. Canadian Attestation Paper, Page 2
Image uploaded for educational purposes, all rights reserved
Copyright Library & Archives Canada

6. Transcript of Canadian Attestation Paper– Page 1
Description of Major John McCrae on enlistment
Distinctive marks
Age 41 years 9 months
Appendicitis scar
Height 6 feet
Chest measurement - girth when fully expanded 40 inches Range of expansion 4 inches
Complexion Fair Eyes Blue Hair Brown
Religion - Presbyterian
Certified as fit for service by Medical Officer September Valcartier, Canada

7. © Copyright CWGC Image uploaded for educational
purposes, all rights reserved

8. Entry in University of Toronto roll of service, 1914-1918
Published by University of Toronto Press, Out of copyright.

9. Poem ‘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
Written in 1915

10. Why we wear poppies on Remembrance Day
Article from iwm.org.uk, written by Helen Mavin

11. Discover more fascinating stories…
Lives of the First World War
livesofthefirstworldwar.org