alexis helmer

1925Who was Canada's Artillery Commander in the Great War?

Major-General Sir Edward Morrison, Canada's Artillery Commander during the Great War, played a pivotal role in some of the Canadian Corps' greatest victories on the Western Front, including Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. Despite his extraordinary leadership and the corps' unmatched record, Morrison remained largely forgotten for a century until historian Susan Raby-Dunne uncovered his remarkable story and connection to John McCrae, author of “In Flanders Fields.” In 2017, Morrison’s previously vanished grave marker at Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery was restored and formally rededicated, bringing overdue recognition to a commander whose strategic direction led to sixty percent of the war’s total casualties being inflicted by Canadian guns. As we mark the 100th anniversary of his death in 2025, Morrison’s legacy now stands as a testament to the courage, skill, and sacrifice of Canada’s artillery and the men he led.

1915What inspired the most beloved and famous of all war poems?

At a front line dressing station near Ypres, Belgium, Canadian Army doctor Major John McCrae penned the enduring war poem "In Flanders Fields" on 3 May 1915. Written in the immediate aftermath of the Second Battle of Ypres, as deadly chlorine gas and relentless artillery claimed thousands of lives, the poem gave voice to the grief and resilience felt by soldiers and medics alike. Inspired by the death of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer and the sight of wild poppies blooming among war graves, McCrae composed the fifteen lines in just twenty minutes while perched on an ambulance tailgate. Although nearly discarded by its creator, "In Flanders Fields" quickly became a powerful symbol of remembrance for generations to come, immortalizing both the sacrifices of war and the enduring image of the poppy.