Page 26 - 201311 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - November 2012

Remembrance Day - November 11 by John McCrae, May 1915 IN FLANDERS FIELDS Inspiration for “In Flanders Fields” In Flanders fields the poppies blow During the early days of the Second Battle of Between the crosses, row on row, Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, That mark our place; and in the sky Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2nd The larks, still bravely singing, fly May, 1915 in the gun positions near Ypres. An Scarce heard amid the guns below. exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian We are the Dead. Short days ago artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, military doctor and artillery commander Major Loved and were loved, and now we lie John McCrae. In Flanders fields. As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked Take up our quarrel with the foe: to conduct the burial service for Alexis because To you from failing hands we throw the chaplain had been called away somewhere The torch; be yours to hold it high. else on duty that evening. It is believed that If ye break faith with us who die later that evening, after the burial, John began We shall not sleep, though poppies grow the draft for his now famous poem “In In Flanders fields. Flanders Fields”.