Canadian doctor, soldier, and poet

born on November 30, 1872, in Guelph, Ontario

Grandfather Thomas McCrae moved to Canada from Scotland in 1849, owns a sawmill, and later ownedGuelph, Woollen Mills

Father David worked at Woollen Mills and later became prize winning cattle breeder; married minister's daughter Janet Eckford in 1870

Nicknamed Jack

Had a brother Thomas and a sister Geills

Enjoyed reading stories in "The Boy's Own Paper" which encouraged boys to want excitement, and futured history, science, craft projects, poetry, etc.

Enjoyed sketching, scrap booking, writing to pals, and farming

Owns some cows, dogs, horses, and cats of his own

Enjoyed nature such as fishing, catching butterflies, looking for milk snakes, etc.

Enjoyed skating on Guelph's Speed River

Loved travelling on ships and planes

Attended Universty College at University of Toronto in 1888

Graduated in 1894

Tutoring students help pay educational expenses

Grew up in a devout Presbyterian home

Was taught every person has a duty to God and country

Enrolled at Guelph Collegiate Institute when he was 12 years old from 1878-1888

Became involved in military life in which father was devoted to

Practised military drills at Collegiate

Marched with Highland Cadet Corps at Collegiate

Promising to join military life earned him a gold metal honouring him as best drilled cadet in Ontario in 1887

Begins medical school 1894

Graduates from medical school 1898

Takes part in the South African War 1898-1902

Works at McGill University in 1901

Joins British forces at the beginning of First World War 1914

Writes the Poem In Flanders Fields in memoryof a friend May 3, 1915

Named as consulting war doctor on January 24, 1918

Dies and is buried in Wimereux, France on January 28, 1918