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Cicely Fox Smith (1 February 1882 – 8 April 1954) was an English writer and poet. The daughter of a lawyer, Smith started writing poems at a young age and published her first book of poetry when she was only sixteen years old. She was very adventurous, and even though she lived in the late Victorian era, she managed to pursue her desire to see the world by taking jobs on sailing ships. Reaching the Pacific Coast of North America, she also worked in lumber camps and with cowboys.

She poured her adventures into her poetry and children's books, as well as pieces written for Punch, Country Life, The Times Literary Supplement, and similar publications. But until she was established as a popular writer, she published under the name "C. Fox Smith" because she believed that people would be less interested in her books if they knew the writer was a woman. Her poems in Punch were frequently credited only to "C.F.S."

As well as writing about the war, Cicely also wrote about the sea under the name of C F Smith, and her words have inspired many folk performers. Many of her sea poems have been set to music and are widely sung in the UK, America and Australia.

Known locally as quite a character, Cicely was often seen speeding around Devon lanes in her Morris Minor car.



Read more: http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/Fans-launch-crusade-war-poet-recognition/story-21062259-detail/story.html#ixzz31e9VNPOp

She received a civil-list pension at the age of 67 for her "services to literature."

Lately her work has been popularized again by folk musicians who have set her poems to music.