John Mccrae Biography
John Mccrae was the second son of Lieutenant Colonel David Mccrae, his family were Scottish Presbyterians. Many people described him as a warm and sensitive person who had compassion for people and animals.
He first began writing poetry while at Guelph Collegiate Institute and as a child he was interested in military. During the ages 14-17 he joined the Highfield cadet corps and enlisted in militia field battery (lead by his father.)
As for his education he graduated from Guelph collegiate at age 16 and became first Guelph student to get a scholar ship to the University of Toronto. His education and life were threatened by severe cases of asthma. He returned to school after taking a year off due to asthma and graduated from UFT with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1894. After he graduated he went to medical school (University of Toronto.) To help pay for his tuition he tutored other medical students. Two of who he had tutored went on to become two of the first women doctors in Ontario. While he was training as a doctor he wrote many poems and short stories which got published in several magazines.
He continued passion for military by becoming a gunner for number 2 Battery in Guelph, Quarter master sergeant in 1891, second Lieutenant in 1893 and Lieutenant in 1896. He also was a member of the Queen’s own Rifles of Canada (became captain) while in University.
In 1898 he got a bachelor of medicine degree and a gold medal from UFT and worked as a resident house officer at Toronto General Hospital for 1 year.
After the Battle of Ypres his happy personality began to dissappear. He even insisted on sleeping in a tent like fellow soldiers instead of the officers hut. After this began affecting his health he was ordered inside.
During the summer 1917 he was troubled by sever asthma attacks and bronchitis. He died due to pneumonia and meningitis on January 28, 1917.
During his late years he was severely affected by the losses and fighting in France, he became bitter and delusional.
He was a poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I, and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium
He first began writing poetry while at Guelph Collegiate Institute and as a child he was interested in military. During the ages 14-17 he joined the Highfield cadet corps and enlisted in militia field battery (lead by his father.)
As for his education he graduated from Guelph collegiate at age 16 and became first Guelph student to get a scholar ship to the University of Toronto. His education and life were threatened by severe cases of asthma. He returned to school after taking a year off due to asthma and graduated from UFT with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1894. After he graduated he went to medical school (University of Toronto.) To help pay for his tuition he tutored other medical students. Two of who he had tutored went on to become two of the first women doctors in Ontario. While he was training as a doctor he wrote many poems and short stories which got published in several magazines.
He continued passion for military by becoming a gunner for number 2 Battery in Guelph, Quarter master sergeant in 1891, second Lieutenant in 1893 and Lieutenant in 1896. He also was a member of the Queen’s own Rifles of Canada (became captain) while in University.
In 1898 he got a bachelor of medicine degree and a gold medal from UFT and worked as a resident house officer at Toronto General Hospital for 1 year.
After the Battle of Ypres his happy personality began to dissappear. He even insisted on sleeping in a tent like fellow soldiers instead of the officers hut. After this began affecting his health he was ordered inside.
During the summer 1917 he was troubled by sever asthma attacks and bronchitis. He died due to pneumonia and meningitis on January 28, 1917.
During his late years he was severely affected by the losses and fighting in France, he became bitter and delusional.
He was a poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I, and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium