The Western Front Association Stand To! No. 113 ‘To Keep the Faith’ John McCrae, Moina Michael and the Flanders Poppy by Diana Beaupré and Adrian Watkinson

The Second Battle of fought from 22 April to 25 May 1915 became the catalyst for a most extraordinary series of connected events during The First World War and beyond. On the morning of Sunday 2 May 1915, a 22–year–old officer, Lieutenant Alexis Hannum Helmer was serving with 1 Canadian Artillery Brigade near Bridge No. 4 – the Brielen Bridge – on the west bank of the Yser Canal, some 2 miles north of Ypres . Emerging from his dugout he was killed instantly by a direct hit from a German shell. The parts of his body which could be recovered were gathered into sandbags and wrapped in an army blanket secured with safety pins to resemble a human shape. Alexis Helmer was buried after dark later that day. The interment of this young officer was the inspiration behind what is perhaps the best known and oft recited poem of the Great War. It is a poem which, in turn, inspired a legacy and which, argue Diana Beaupré and Adrian Watkinson, endures to this day. The scene from the Canadian 1 Artillery Brigade HQ dug out at Essex Farm – showing the small, but expanding cemetery – as sketched by Major General Sir Edward Morrison in May 1915.The line ‘Between the crosses, row on row’ was written by John McCrae (3) 1912, Alexis graduated after three years at the dying men as the conflict raged around them. Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. Second–in–command of the unit was Major He then took a two year course in Applied John McCrae who had forged a strong and Science at McGill University in Montreal and close friendship with Alexis Helmer at McGill completed his Railway Engineering degree. University. When the shelling paused for a At the outbreak of war, Alexis was already an time, gunners dug a grave for their young officer in the Canadian Artillery. officer in ground nearby that had become a The war diary entry of 1 Canadian Artillery makeshift cemetery for many of the soldiers Brigade for 2 May 1915 described: ‘Intense who had died. Being told of the brutal death of heavy shelling by enemy all night which his friend, John McCrae recorded in his journal increased toward morning. Lt Helmer killed & that ‘Lieut Helmer was killed, His diary’s last Lt Hague severely wounded whilst observing.’ words were “It has quieted a little and I shall No–one who was present could ever imagine try to get a good sleep.” His girl’s picture had a how the death of the young officer would hole right through it and we buried it with him. lead to the composition of a war poem which I said the committal service over him as well as has resonated around the world for over one I could through memory. A soldier’s death!’ As Lieutenant Alexis Helmer in uniform (1) hundred years. the chaplains were needed elsewhere, McCrae The dugout housing 1 Canadian Artillery performed the short service for the former ‘A soldier’s death’ Dressing Station was very close, also on the McGill student. near the Alexis Helmer was the only son of Colonel, banks of the Yser Canal. This crude ‘hole in the village of in Belgium and the site of later Brigadier General, Richard Alexis Helmer rear side of the twenty–foot high canal bank’ the dugout alongside it – the present concrete of the Department of Militia and Defence, was where doctors and orderlies sheltered structure is post–April 1915 – are visited each Instructor of Musketry at Ottawa, Canada. In whilst trying to treat hundreds of wounded and year by thousands of people.

1/Canadian Artillery war diary entry – 2 May 1915 (2)

1 The Western Front Association Stand To! No. 113 Alexis Helmer’s grave was visible from the bunker where John McCrae sat looking out over the rows of crude wooden crosses. Vivid scarlet poppies had already sprung up amongst them. During that night, this sight and a deep sadness inspired an exhausted McCrae to write the first draft of his poem‘ ’.

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. 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. 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 (4) In Flanders fields. Major John McCrae and his horse Bonfire

Of all the words ever written during a war, it was to become the most quoted, endlessly War! was carried on a north easterly breeze towards copied, singularly moving and best remembered When war was declared in 1914, John McCrae French and Canadian troops. Fortunately, work of literature. Discussed in the trenches of – at the age of 42 – volunteered and became one the Canadians had some expertise and had Flanders and all along the Western Front, the of over half a million members of the Canadian already formed a small unit for chemical poem was destined to be memorised and widely Expeditionary Force. He wrote to his mother analysis to protect the water supply. One recited by thousands of soldiers within weeks. ‘It is a terrible state of affairs and I am going chemist involved was a University of Toronto History has handed it down to us as part of our because I think every bachelor, especially if he professor, Lieutenant Colonel George Nasmith remembrance over 100 years later. has experience of war, ought to go. I am really who identified the substance in the gas to be rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home chlorine. This was confirmed by his friend in Soldier, artist, doctor, poet with my conscience.’ (6) the 14/Montreal Battalion, Captain Francis So, who was John McCrae? Born in Guelph, Assigned the rank of major, he was given the Scrimger –who gave crude but immediate help Ontario in 1872, he was the second son in a role of senior medical officer and travelled to to the soldiers. He instructed them to urinate family of three children. His mill owner father Europe with his horse ‘Bonfire’, gifted to him onto a handkerchief or piece of bandage and founded the local militia unit. Although he and by his friend John Todd. hold it over their nose and mouth which would his brother Tom trained as doctors, John was In addition, he was also second–in–command afford some protection against the chlorine. also raised as a soldier. The McCrae family of 1 Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. By His advice saved numerous men from death were staunch Presbyterians and attended church March 1915, they were moved out to Belgium and horrendous injury. Scrimger’s actions on at least once every Sunday. where heavy casualties had already been 25 April 1915 earned him the VC. Meanwhile, Whilst attending Toronto University, John incurred by British troops during the First Nasmith had put his skills as a chemist to fell in love with Alice McCrae (no relation). Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914. work and, within a few days, had developed When she died of typhoid, John was so The Ypres Salient was one of the most a hyposulphite soda–soaked pad, which was devastated by his loss that he never married. dangerous of locations at that time. The designed to react with the gas to form sodium Graduating with a medical degree in 1898, development of poison gas as an offensive chloride and vastly reduce its effects. These McCrae went to work at McGill University weapon of war by the Germans culminated in pads were issued to all front line units and Pathology department. Within a year, he was its use was brought into use for the first time in helped save the lives of thousands of soldiers packing to leave as war had broken out in South the history of warfare on 22 April 1915. The gas facing this new and terrifying weapon.(7) Africa. He went not as a doctor, but as a soldier in the Canadian Artillery. McCrae was already accepted in the literary field as a poet of some promise with over 25 published poems. As the Boer War gripped world attention, he wrote ‘Disarmament’, which was published in the Toronto Globe:

One spake amid the nations, “Let us cease From darkening with strife the fair World’s light, We who are great in war be great in peace. No longer let us plead the cause by might.” But from a million British graves took birth A silent voice – the million spake as one – “If ye have righted all the wrongs of earth Lay by the sword! Its work and ours is done.” (5)

On his return to Canada, he again studied at McGill and contributed to the golden age of medicine. Teaching pathology at McGill’s University Hospital, McCrae contributed to the ten volume Oslers Modern Medicine textbook. A group of officers of 1/5 York and Lancaster Regiment try out the first gas ‘masks’ – April 1915 (8)

2 The Western Front Association Stand To! No. 113 Under constant heavy fire, McCrae laboured in his bunker to treat the seemingly endless numbers of wounded, the condition of many being frequently compromised with infections having been contracted after laying for hours on what had been heavily manured farmland. During 17 days and nights, no–one removed their clothes or shoes, whilst battling extreme exhaustion. John McCrae summed it up as ‘17 days of Hades’ a dark philosophical reference to the Greek god of the dead, and the Underworld. (9) McCrae and his team tended to over 4,500 wounded men during these dark days and nights. Nurse Clare Gass In June 1915, John McCrae was redeployed to 3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, which was staffed entirely by McGill trained doctors and nurses. He worked there as head doctor, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Nova Scotia–born Nurse Clare Gass was working closely with McCrae and noted in her dairy that ‘Nothing in our training could have prepared us for our experience here.’(10)

Punch magazine 8 December 1915 – the poem was printed anonymously in the bottom right hand corner (11) Nurse Clare Gass – 3 Canadian Hospital, Boulogne

By now, ‘In Flanders Fields’ was in wide Grasping the torch And holding high, we keep the Faith circulation amongst the troops. On 30 October Born at Good Hope in Georgia, Miss Moina With All who died.(12) 1915, Nurse Gass copied the 15–line poem Belle Michael, was a teacher at the University down into her daily journal. A piece of history of Georgia and spent most of the war years Moina had made an effort to brighten up was made that day because it is the earliest working as a YWCA volunteer. In November the conference hall by decorating it with known written copy of ‘In Flanders Fields’ in 1918, she attended the 25th anniversary flowers. By way of thanks for her efforts, three existence. Gass encouraged John McCrae to conference of the Overseas YMCA War delegates gave her a gift of $10. Touched by submit his poem to Punch magazine which, Secretaries in New York. Moina was browsing their gesture, she showed them the page from during the war, was full of anti–German cartoons through the magazine Ladies Home Journal Ladies Home Journal together with her own that appealed to Empire troops everywhere. which contained ‘In Flanders Fields’ under its poem. Later that evening, Moina was wearing The poem appeared – anonymously – on the alternative title of ‘We Shall Not Sleep’. a small, red artificial silk poppy pinned to her back page of the 8 December 1915 issue. In Although she had read it previously, this time collar, one of 25 identical poppies she had spite of this, McCrae’s name and poem were the poem was shown beside a picture of soldiers purchased with the $10. She then gave out the spreading to a whole new audience many miles rising above the ground covered with poppies remaining 24 to delegates who wanted to wear distant from the grim realities of daily life on and crosses. She felt particularly moved by one. the Western Front. the last verse, as if the voices of those who By December 1918, she had launched Instead of choosing the easy life and had died were speaking directly to her. Moina a self–funded campaign to get the poppy returning to Canada, or the promise of a less immediately scribbled the first verse of her own adopted as the national memorial symbol stressful position in London, McCrae chose response to ‘In Flanders Fields’ and called her across the United States. In her imagination, to stay in Boulogne. As the war dragged into poem ‘We Shall Keep the Faith’. the Flanders Memorial Poppy was an image of the autumn of 1917, it was noted that he had optimism for the future. The press gave it an become tired and more remote, taking Bonfire Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, enthusiastic welcome. Her goal was to make for long rides through the French countryside Sleep sweet – to rise anew! an impact with it prior to the signing of the accompanied by Bonneau, his dog. We caught the torch you threw Peace Treaty at Versailles in June 1919.

3 The Western Front Association Stand To! No. 113 help for survivors of the war. She set about to American Legion and British trying to find ways of using her poppy symbol poppies to raise funds for these damaged soldiers and By 1922, the ‘American and French Children’s their families. League’ had been disbanded but the drive to cement the poppy as the Memorial Symbol was ‘The Poppy Lady’ taken up by the American Legion. They were Late in 1919, a new organisation known as the supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion was formed. Founded by the Auxiliary to the American Legion. Both veterans of the United States armed forces, it these volunteer–run organisations believed was hoped it would provide a support network that veterans could make their own poppies, for those who had served in wartime Europe. then sell them for the benefit of disabled and In August 1920, the Georgia department of the unemployed ex–servicemen who were unable American Legion held a convention at Atlanta. to generate income in any other way. Moina made herself known to many of the Moina Michael was delighted with this delegates and a naval representative promised concept as poppies could be produced as pre– to present her Memorial Poppy to the gathering. cut petals which were formed into complete The convention agreed to adopt the simple flowers for sale. ‘From 1924, disabled ex– memorial poppy and the familiar four petal servicemen started making poppies at the shape was chosen. It also urged all members ‘Buddy Poppy’ factory in Pittsburgh. The name to wear a red poppy on 11 November each ‘Buddy Poppy’ was registered as a US Patent in year as a sign of remembrance. The Georgia February 1924.’(14) Nowadays, over 14,000,000 convention was so enthusiastic that they of them are made annually and distributed endorsed a resolution at the National American across the United States. Legion to have the poppy endorsed by the Moina Belle Michael – The Poppy Lady (13) British poppy production began in the Old organisation across the country. Kent Road, London during 1922. The first At its own national convention at Cleveland British Legion Poppy Factory sprang from With 1918 drawing to a close and her ideas in Ohio, the use of the Flanders Fields the efforts of Great War veteran officer, Major still fresh but not able to get them off the ground, Memorial Poppy was adopted as the United George Howson MC, who was its founder Moina was put in touch with Lee Keedick, a States National Emblem of Remembrance on and chairman. His purpose was to provide New York designer. His design was for an 29 September 1920. permanent employment for five disabled emblem consisting of a blue border on a white One of the delegates at that conference was men making the flowers to sell for the annual canvas, with the torch of liberty and a poppy a French woman Madame Anna E Guerin. Armistice Anniversary. As the demand grew entwined into the centre. It also contained the She arranged for millions of poppies made in year on year, production increased and many colours of the allied flags, red, white, blue France by the ‘American and French Children’s more workers were employed. By 1933, the black, yellow and green. Although this appealed League’ to be distributed across America. The factory needed to move to larger premises at to her and was first introduced at Carnegie Hall proceeds from these sales were used to help Richmond, Surrey. ‘The Poppy Factory’ is a in New York on 14 February 1919, it failed to some of the areas in France that had been registered charity and organises a two–hour tour capture the imagination of the public at large. devastated during the war. of its premises which produces and distributes Clearly, it was over complicated and lacked When news of this venture spread, Anna almost 40,000,000 poppies for wreaths, sprays any significant visual impact. Lee Keedick was Guerin was invited to Canada where she was and buttonholes. Visitors are able to make their disappointed by the negative reaction to his met by the Great War Veterans Association own in the museum. work and abandoned the campaign altogether. of Canada, which later became the Canadian Moina was faced with a stark choice of Legion. Canada embraced the poppy as its The final hours whether to pursue her crusade or to abandon national flower of remembrance on 5 July 1921. So, what became of Lieutenant Colonel John it and return to her academic career. Hope The Moina Michael poppy was brought to McCrae, whose poem had inspired such was beginning to fade that she would ever be Britain when several French women arrived in symbolism? As he continued to work at 3 able to promote her Memorial mission to the London to sell them. The British Legion had Canadian General Hospital, his health began wider public. She was aware that all of the been formed on 15 May 1921, bringing together to deteriorate and he was plagued by his other recognisable signs such as the Red Cross four national organisations of ex–servicemen long–standing asthma. On 24 January 1918, insignia, War Loan motif and the Service Flags that had established themselves after the Great McCrae was appointed Consulting Physician would gradually fade from public memory as War. Its purpose was to care for those who were to the British First Army, the first Canadian to the post–war months and years wore on. Moina still suffering, whether it be the men themselves be honoured in this way. The following day, felt that an instantly recognisable alternative or their families. McCrae complained of feeling sleepy and tired. emblem of remembrance was needed to fill the The first British Poppy appeal day was also He was taken to 14 British General Hospital for void for all those thousands of men who would held in 1921 together with the adoption of a Officers in Wimereux, about 3 miles north of never return home. two minutes’ silence to remember the dead. Boulogne. He gave his fellow doctors a self– Moina returned to her home state of Georgia The proceeds of the French–made poppies were diagnosis that he had developed pneumonia. and again took up her position at the university donated to former servicemen who were in dire After slipping into a coma, John McCrae, by March 1919. She quickly came to appreciate need of support. soldier, doctor, artist and poet, died at 1.30am that remembrance was not solely confined to As word of the Remembrance Poppy spread on the morning of 28 January 1918. His army the thousands of men who had perished on around the world, other countries adopted its record mentions that he also had contacted the battlefields of Europe. Crucially, there principles. In the autumn of 1921, Australia and ‘suppurative meningitis’ were many more who were maimed and trying New Zealand took steps to ensure that poppies His passing was recorded in the 3 Canadian to cope with mental or physical injuries or would be available for sale by 11 November. The General Hospital war diary: illnesses. New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association ‘Beautiful morning. Lt Colonel The lines from her poem ‘We caught the had been founded in 1916 and ordered almost J McCrae much worse, became torch you threw/, and holding high, we keep the 400,000 poppies from the ‘American and unconscious during the day and died Faith/ with All who died’ would have remained French Children’s League’. Sadly, the order shortly after midnight. He has been in the forefront of her memory. Motivated to was not delivered in time for the November Officer in Charge of Medicine in this discover and understand at first–hand the needs Remembrance Day. Instead, the first poppy day hospital since its inception and no man of these wounded men, she taught a class of was held in April 1922 – just before ANZAC could have worked more unselfishly disabled servicemen during the summer of Day – in remembrance of the Australian and than he did. I consider the best evidence 1919. Through this group, she came to accept New Zealand Forces who had landed on the of the value of his work came to him that within the scope of remembrance for the beaches of the Gallipoli peninsular on 25 April just on the day he was taken ill. He dead, there was an even greater need to provide 1915. himself considered it great honour

4 The Western Front Association Stand To! No. 113 John McCrae’s six war medals were lost for a period of time and only resurfaced when they were offered at auction in 1997. In his belief that Canada was short of heroes Arthur Lee, a Winnipeg coin dealer, bought the medals for $406,000 to keep them in the country and donated the collection to their permanent home at the McCrae House Museum at Guelph, Ontario. Sadly, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer’s original grave was obliterated following subsequent shelling. His name is engraved on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres. The Helmer family memorial in Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa displays the names of both Alexis Richard and Alexis Hannum Helmer. Father and son are also remembered in perpetuity by Mount Helmer on the British Columbia and Alberta border. McCrae’s legacy Although he wrote many poems during his life, the spiritual quality and imagery of ‘In Flanders Fields’ has remained in the forefront of the acts The page recording his death in John McCrae’s personnel record (15) of remembrance that many nations worldwide hold each year on 11 November. The poem and was very much pleased with the to attend, officers, dignitaries and as a special also speaks to, and for, each individual soldier, appointment and looked joyfully to dispensation, the nurses of 3 Canadian Hospital touching the hearts of everyone who reads filling the new position.’(16) who could be spared were given leave to attend. it. The simple four–petalled field poppy of Complete with a guard of honour, his casket Flanders echoes the spirit of John McCrae’s As news of his death spread rapidly, many was drawn on a gun carriage covered with a poem. colleagues and friends were saddened that they Union Jack, because he had died in a British Why does his poem still resonate with both had not had the opportunity to see him. One hospital. service people and civilians? Unlike most war nurse from 3 Canadian Hospital wrote that Most poignant would have been the sight of poems which focus on battles and the general ‘he has gone never knowing how much we Bonfire, McCrae’s beloved horse, which was tragedy of conflicts, ‘In Flanders Fields’ is cared.’(17) draped with white reins with John’s riding boots written from the perspective of an intensely The following day, John McCrae was reversed in the saddle. The procession made its personal connection to all those who died and buried with full military honours in Wimereux way through Wimereux to the cemetery where with the positive expectation that the living will Cemetery at one of the largestt funerals of his grave is still visited annually by a large take up the mantle from the dead. The lines ‘To the Great War. Many soldiers were allowed number of people. 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…’ are a direct plea from the grave by those who would have had no idea whether the war had been won or lost. On another level, the words could so easily be the sentiments of any dying person surrounded by Extract from the war diary of 3 Canadian Hospital, Boulogne (18) family and friends.

John McCrae’s funeral – his horse Bonfire to the right (19)

5 The Western Front Association Stand To! No. 113 Certainly, the death of Alexis Helmer affected John McCrae very deeply and it is this connection with loss which comes through in his words. Although only fifteen lines in length, the meaning behind each word has endured for over a hundred years and has carried through to represent the casualties of more recent conflicts like the Second World War, Korea and onwards to Iraq and Afghanistan. Canada has good reason to be proud of its most notable hero. During 2015, celebrations took place across the country commemorating the remarkable legacy left by one of its sons. ‘A poet and a scientist and a soldier – a scholar, a gentleman, a Christian, a fine fellow, generous, unselfish, a tireless, aggressive worker’ was how McCrae was described by Professor William Caldwell who knew him during his time at McGill University. (20) At his birthplace at Guelph in Ontario, the McCrae House Museum is dedicated to their ‘local hero’, containing many mementos and artifacts from his life. A striking statue of McCrae was unveiled at the Guelph Civic Museum on 25 June 2015, a date chosen to allow local schoolchildren to be in attendance. Previously, an identical monument to McCrae had been unveiled beside the National Artillery Memorial by the Ottawa River on 3 May 2015, exactly 100 years to the day when his poem was written. The large bronze statue features a thoughtful John McCrae in the uniform of an artillery officer, notepad in his left hand, with a medical bag at his feet and surrounded by poppies. The iconic symbol of the poppy unites people around the world and has been an inspiration to artists for decades. The 888,246 ceramic poppies in the spectacular ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas The John McCrae statue at Guelph Civic Centre (21)

The Tower of London – ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ (22)

6 The Western Front Association Stand To! No. 113 of Red’ display around the moat of the Tower of (2) Library & Archives Canada (LAC) 1915, London signified each Commonwealth casualty war diary for 1st Brigade CFA. Oct 1914– during the Great War. The poppies were in July 1915. RG9–lll.D3 place from 17 July to 11 November 2014, then (3) McCrae Museum, Guelph September 2017 were sold to raise millions of pounds for six (4) http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john– service charities. In turn, it inspired numerous mccrae–in–flanders–fields.htm ‘Weeping Windows’ which feature a cascade of (5) John F Prescott, In Flanders Fields – The poppies appearing to flow from the windows of Story of John McCrae. (Guelph Historical many historic buildings. Society, Ontario:1985), p.27. There is a body of opinion that questions (6) Ibid, p.77. why we should continue to commemorate the (7) Daniel G Dancocks, Welcome to Flanders casualties of the Great War. Isn’t it time to move Fields, (McClelland & Stewart Inc. The US postage stamp issued in 1948 in honour of on? The response is quite simple. Everybody (24) Toronto: 1989), p.161. needs to understand their history if they wish to Moina Michael (8) Image from Jon Cooksey, Images of War: learn from it and not repeat similar mistakes in In addition to the eternal legacy of ‘In Flanders 1915, (Pen and Sword: 2005). the future. Less than 21 years had elapsed when Flanders Fields’, the accolades should be (9) National Film Board of Canada 1998 DVD war was declared again in 1939. The cycle shared by the poem penned by Moina Michael – John McCrae’s War – In Flanders Fields. of death and devastation was unleashed with in response. It is every bit as powerful. Our (10) Ibid. unfettered ferocity. Clearly, the lessons had not annual acts of commemoration are contained (11) Punch magazine – 1915. been learnt by the self–same protagonists. within its words. (12) http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/moina– A century ago, who could have imagined that michael–we–shall–keep–faith.htm what began as a hastily composed poem by a V2 We cherish, too, the poppy red (13) https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ military doctor would give birth to a universally That grows on fields where valor led; community/stories/remembrance/moina– accepted symbol? John McCrae’s powerful It seems to signal to the skies michael/ imagery of the fragile wild Flanders poppy has That blood of heroes never dies, (14) http://www.greatwar.co.uk/article/ come to represent the frailty of human existence But lends a lustre to the red remembrance–poppy.htm and sacrifice. The poem has been translated Of the flower that blooms above the dead (15) http://central.bac–lac.gc.ca/. into many languages and transcends different In Flanders Fields. item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=7202–02 cultures around the world. (16) LAC 1918, war diary for 3 Canadian Just as important, the essence of ‘In Flanders V3 And now the Torch and Poppy Red General Hospital. May 1915–June 1919 Field’ touched a chord in the heart and soul We wear in honor of our dead. RG9–lll.D3 of Moina Michael who caught the torch John Fear not that ye have died for naught; (17) John F Prescott, op.cit., p129. McCrae had thrown. She read his words and set We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought (18) LAC 1918, war diary for 3 Canadian out to keep the faith with those who had died. In Flanders Fields. (25) General Hospital. May 1915–June 1919 Her tenacity and courage turned 15 deceptively RG9–lll.D3 simple lines into what has become a lasting and ‘At the going down of the sun – and in the (19) National Film Board of Canada 1998 DVD singular token of international remembrance. morning/ We will remember them’ (26) – John McCrae’s War – In Flanders Fields Without her insight and vision, how else might (20) https://www.theontarion.com/2015/05/ we have commemorated the dead during the Diana Beaupré graduated from Canterbury remembering–a–local–hero/ last century? Or, might they have become the Christ Church University in 2007 and Adrian (21) Image taken by authors – Guelph, Ontario – unknown victims of a long forgotten war? Watkinson from Hendon College back in 1967. September 2017 Moina Michael died on 10 May 1944 at As independent, post–retirement researchers (22) https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ Athens in Georgia, USA aged 74. She is buried for the past ten years, they have investigated all tower–of–london–poppies–artist–art– in Rest Haven Cemetery at Monroe, Walton of the 3,902 WW1 Canadians commemorated has–a–life–of–its–own–but–im–sad– County, Georgia.. Newspapers of that time across the UK. Their work can be viewed on people–are–selling–my–poppies–on– reported that ‘her grave was covered with a their website: www.canadianukgravesww1. a3108896.html blanket of 3,223 red poppies which had been co.uk and they plan to complete their project by (23) Linda Granfield, Where Poppies Grow, made by veterans.’ (23) the end of 2019. (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Ontario: 2001). On 9 November 1948, the United States (24) https://arago.si.edu/record_146351_img_1. Postal Service issued a red 3 cent postage stamp References html displaying her picture, poppies and a dedication (1) Image–National Film Board of Canada (25) http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/moina– to the Founder of Memorial Poppy. A fitting 1998 DVD – John McCrae’s War – In michael–we–shall–keep–faith.htm epitaph to a remarkable woman. Flanders Fields (26) Lawrence Binyon, For the Fallen, (1914).

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