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In Flanders Fields
By: Tanya McColgan
Published: 30 October 2024
REMEMBRANCE
One of history's most famous wartime poems, "In Flanders Fields" was written during WWI by Canadian officer and surgeon, John McCrae.
“In Flanders Fields” is one of the most famous war poems, written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae during World War I. The poem was penned in May 1915, inspired by the sight of poppies growing amidst the graves of soldiers in Flanders, a region in Belgium, heavily impacted by the war.
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The poem reflects on the sacrifices of soldiers and has become a significant symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in war. McCrae was inspired to write the poem shortly after burying his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who was killed during the Second Battle of Ypres.
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His work has had a lasting impact on war literature and memorial traditions. “In Flanders Fields” continues to resonate with people today, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during conflicts and encapsulates the grief and loss experienced during wartime, while also honoring the resilience and bravery of those who fought.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's poem become an enduring symbol of remembrance, especially during commemorative events like Remembrance Day and has helped shape the way nations remember their fallen soldiers and the red poppy has become the symbol of remembrance for soldiers who lost their lives in war.
The poem begins with a vivid description of red poppies blooming among the graves of fallen soldiers, symbolising both the beauty of nature and the stark reality of death in war. The poem adjusts into the words from the dead soldiers, urging the living to continue fighting with honour, duty, sacrifice and for the hope of peace whilst capturing the profound impact of war on both nature and humanity.
In Flanders Fields
By Lt. Col 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.
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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!
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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"
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Composed at the battlefront on 3 May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium.​
Lt. Col John McCrae c.1914
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae (1872 -1817)
​John McCrae was born on November 30, 1872 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and studied at the University of Toronto, earning a degree in medicine. Born into a family of Scottish Presbyterians, John McCrae was one of three children and came from a well-educated family, his father Lieutenant-Colonel David McCrae and his mother, Janet Simpson McCrae who was involved in the arts, which likely influenced his interests, particularly poetry and writing. During his youth, McCrae wrote poetry and was active in literary circles. His early works were influenced by classic poets like Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning.
After completing his medical degree in 1898, he worked at several hospitals and became known for his dedication to his patients and was also involved in public health services before the war. McCrae enlisted at the outbreak of the First World War (WWI) at age 41, with the First Canadian Contingent in 1914 . He served as a major and a surgeon in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The First Canadian Contingent trained in England before departing for France in early 1915.
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It was McCrae's second act of duty in the Canadian military, he had previously fought with a volunteer force in the Second Boer War and served for duty of fighting for his country and empire. ​​When McCrae enlisted for service in WWI, McCrae wrote to a friend; "I am really rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience."
In April 1915, McCrae and a young friend, Alexis Helmer, joined the 18,000 soldiers of the First Canadian Contingent in their positions near Ypres, Belgium.
The contingent's first large-scale combat was at the Second Battle of Ypres in the Flanders region of Belgium on April 22, 1915. The Second Battle of Ypres was particularly harrowing, where the German's launched the first use of chlorine gas, attacking the French positions north of the Canadians, destroying two French units, however the German's were unable to break through the Canadian line, which was held for over two weeks.
In a letter written to his mother, McCrae described the battle as a "nightmare" - "For seventeen days and seventeen nights none of us have had our clothes off, nor our boots even, except occasionally. In all that time while I was awake, gunfire and rifle fire never ceased for sixty seconds ... And behind it all was the constant background of the sights of the dead, the wounded, the maimed, and a terrible anxiety lest the line should give way."
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During the Battle of Ypres, McCrae's close friend, Alexis Helmer was killed on May 2, 1915. McCrae as the brigade doctor preformed the burial service for his friend. Later, at Helmer's grave, it is understood that he wrote a few lines that were the beginning of the poem "In Flanders Fields."
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After completing "In Flanders Fields," McCrae sent the poem to The Spectator magazine in London, where it was rejected. However, a journalist visiting the field hospital where he served took a copy to Punch magazine, which published it anonymously on December 8, 1915. Within months, it was republished with McCrae's name and quickly became the most beloved poem of the war.
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​McCrae continued to serve at the Western Front and in various roles during the war, despite his declining health and struggling with illness including the traumas of war. He died on January 28, 1918 of pneumonia and meningitis while still in service and only months before the end of the war. He was buried in Wimereux Cemetery in France and his grave is marked by a stone inscribed with the opening lines of "In Flanders Fields."​
McCrae's Legacy
By 1917, "In Flanders Fields" was recognized across the English speaking world, aiding in fundraising for troops and recruiting American soldiers as the United Stated of America prepared to enter the conflict. John McCrae soon became a household name in America and around the world.
The poems striking imagery of poppies rising from the disturbed earth established the enduring tradition of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in service. McCrae’s poem is read by millions around the world each Remembrance Day - 11th November.
McCrae's work has inspired countless writers and has significantly shaped our remembrance of soldiers and the consequences of war.
His contributions are honored in literature, memorials, and various commemorative events. The In Flanders Fields Museum, Cloth Hall in Ypres (Ieper), Belgium, is named after the poem. The special exhibition gallery in the Canadian War Museum is also named for McCrae.
The poem is frequently studied in schools and is an integral part of discussions about war literature, making McCrae's poem one of the most renowned and recited works about war.
