McCrae's other legacy

For many around the world, the poppy is a symbol of remembrance.  Most would know, in part at least, how the poppy came to be adopted as such. The famous 1915 poem of Canadian Army doctor John McCrae, ‘In Flanders Fields', makes two mentions…  “In Flanders fields the poppies blow…” and “…If ye break faith with us who die; We shall not sleep; though poppies grow; In Flanders fields.”

In November 1918, just days before Armistice, this poem came across the desk of Moina Michael at the YMCA headquarters in New York. It so touched her she went on to pen an emotive response (We Shall Keep the Faith)  and to champion the poppy as a memorial flower. The rest is, as they say, history.

In Flanders Field is a powerful piece and no doubt it is McCrae’s most famous literary work.  But it is not his only literary work. Before war and soldiering; even before medicine, McCrae was a resident master in English and Mathematics at the Ontario Agricultural College in Canada. He was a poet and author, and by accounts a fine example of each.  

For almost 100 years we have honoured McCrae through the poppy – even if unwittingly. It is fitting to honour his art.  His last recorded poem before he died of pneumonia on the Western Front on 28 January 1918 is ‘The Anxious Dead’. 

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The Anxious dead

By John McCrae

O guns, fall silent till the dead men hear

Above their heads the legions pressing on:

(These fought their fight in time of bitter fear,

And died not knowing how the day had gone.)

O flashing muzzles, pause, and let them see

The coming dawn that streaks the sky afar;

Then let your mighty chorus witness be

To them, and Caesar, that we still make war.

Tell them, O guns, that we have heard their call,

That we have sworn, and will not turn aside,

That we will onward till we win or fall,

That we will keep the faith for which they died.

Bid them be patient, and some day, anon,

They shall feel earth enwrapt in silence deep;

Shall greet, in wonderment, the quiet dawn,

And in content may turn them to their sleep.

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The poppy will always be part of his legacy and a testament to the memory of an artist who found himself fighting to save lives on the bloodiest battlefield of modern war.  McCrae published some 30 poems, many during his early twenties, as well as a number of short stories. Had he not been lost what more would he have achieved? As with the countless others of great potential lost to war, we will never know.

We honour his memory by making the poppy part of our story. Bringing it to life for all who share a pride in remembering those, like McCrae, who served in our name.

What more would McCrae have given the world?