Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918) was born in Guelph, Ontario, the grandson of Scottish immigrants Thomas McCrae (1820-1892) and Jean Campbell (1814-1897). John McCrae was a bugler and gunner as a young man. He later studied to become a physician and served as a soldier.
He is well known for his infamous Great War poem, In Flanders Fields. The poem was written on May 3rd 1915 after McCrae conducted the burial service for Lieutenant Alexis Helmer. It both remembers and acknowledges those lost in the line of duty and honours those who continue to serve militarily.
About the Scottish Diaspora
The Scottish Diaspora is a project to involve communities around the world in celebration of Scottish heritage and culture, the people and places which connect Scotland to its global diaspora.
Scots have migrated all over the world and have often had a profound impact on the areas where they settled. This project brought together stories from more than such communities, documenting their Scottish connections in more than 300 embroidered panels. It is a remarkable and heart-felt homage to the determination, courage and achievement of Scottish migrants and their descendants across the centuries.
Read more about the project on their website at www.scottishdiasporatapestry.org
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