From the News

Dated: January 29, 1919

OUR HEROIC DEAD

A BRIEF SKETCH OF TWO DELBURNE BOYS, WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

The following is a brief sketch of the career of two of Red Deer district's young heroes who gave their lives for their country. They were the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Alan McRae of Delburne. Mr. McRae, besides being in the local council, is one of the most highly respected farmers of this section of country. Mr. and Mrs. McRae are among our most loyal citizens, although their hearts were torn with anguish at their great loss, they can lift up their heads with pride in the knowledge that their brave boys nobly died for the greatest cause the earth has ever seen.

The late James G. McRae was born in Washington, D.C., October 20th, 1893. When at the age of 10 years the family moved to Red Deer, where they lived for two years, when they moved to Delburne, where they are at present. When the great world war broke out James was one of the first to volunteer, but was turned down on account of being too short by half an inch. Soon after he made another effort, and was taken on on December 13th, 1915. James joined the 89th, which was being formed in Red Deer, and after training for about 6 months the battalion left for England, where it was broken up and sent with different units. James was sent with the 10th C.M.R. to France.¹ When in France for two weeks the Battalion was sent to the line, and after four weeks fierce fighting James fell terribly wounded at Courcelette on Oct. 10. He was taken to Etaples military hospital, where he died on Oct. 12th, in his 23rd year. James McRae was the first soldier to fall in the world war from Washington, D.C.

The late John Duncan McRae was born in Washington, D.C., on the 24th day of January, 1895. His parents moved to Red Deer, Alberta, in 1905, and he attended school there for two terms. The family then moved to their present location near Delburne in 1907, and he attended the Rosedale school for several years. He next attended the Agricultural College, Olds, from where he joined the 113th Kilties, a Lethbridge battalion. After some training in Lethbridge he was sent to England, where the Battalion was trained for several months before they were sent over to France.

On April 9th, 1917, in one of the battles which made the name of Canada ring the world over, the battle of Vimy Ridge, John received wounds that sent him to hospital at Bramshott, England, for nine months. Being recovered in June 1918 he was sent back to France, where he was attached to the First Canadian Mounted rifles, and it was with this unit in fierce fighting round Arras, on the evening of August 26th, that John fell mortally wounded.

The qualities of the late John McRae are well expressed in a letter written to his parents by Professor W. J. Elliott, Principal of the Olds College of Agriculture. He says:

John was a good boy, he was a favourite with me here at the School because he was so true and honest and sincere. He was a regular member of my Bible Class, and so often referred to the time that he had spent at Olds, and of the fact that he enjoyed attending the Bible Class. He was one of the first to go to the front, he did not go for adventure, but he went to help save the mothers and babies of Belgium and France from the cruel Hun. He gave his life for others, and to prevent the German frightfulness coming to Canada. A young man can do nothing greater of more noble than that, my dear friend. Jesus said, 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' John did that and the Master says that there is no greater love. The Master laid down His life for all, and John has therefore had a share in the Master's sacrifice.

John was the eighth of my college boys to lay down his young life in the cause of freedom, and I am going to try and live, Mr. McRae, to meet those boys again.