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Australian-born journalist and author (1874–1960) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Frank Ignatius Fox (10 August 1874[2] – 1960)[3] was an Australian-born journalist, soldier, author and campaigner, who lived in Britain from 1909.
Sir Frank Fox | |
|---|---|
Photographic portrait of Frank Fox (in about 1922). | |
| Born | 10 August 1874 |
| Died | 4 March 1960 (aged 85)[1] |
| Alma mater | Christ College (University of Tasmania) |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, soldier, author and campaigner |
| Notable work | The Lone Hand |
| Parent(s) | Charles James Fox Mary Ann |
Frank Ignatius Fox was born in 1874 in Adelaide, second son of Charles James Fox, one-time Latin teacher, journalist and editor of The Irish Harp and Farmers' Herald, and his wife Mary Ann (née Toole). He moved to Hobart in 1883, when his father became editor of the Tasmanian Mail, and was educated at Christ College. At an early age he wrote paragraphs for his father's paper.
Fox was appointed editor of The Australian Workman in 1893, then in 1895 the (Bathurst) National Advocate, before joining The Age, where he served as chief of their reporting staff.[4] He joined the staff of the Sydney Bulletin in 1901[5] and was acting editor for a time. As "Frank Renar", he published his first book Bushman and Buccaneer, a memoir of Harry Morant which became the seminal work for subsequent books, plays and the acclaimed film Breaker Morant.
While still working for the Bulletin, Fox served 1907–09 as first editor and manager of Lone Hand, a monthly publication of literature and poetry. Fox published a volume of political essays, From the Old Dog (Melbourne), in 1908. He was a keen horseman; riding out regularly with his literary colleagues Andrew Banjo Paterson and Norman Lindsay.[6] In spite of the latter describing him as an equine exhibitionist, Lindsay painted an equestrian portrait of Fox. This was considered highly unusual, as the subject matter is not in keeping with Lindsay's well-known works.[7]
Lindsay wrote Bohemians of the Bulletin, which is illustrated with his doodles.[8]
Fox was appointed as an assistant editor for the Morning Post[9] in December 1909 and later in 1910, he was promoted as the news editor. He published Ramparts of Empire (1910) about the navy, Australia (1910), The British Empire (1911), Problems of the Pacific (1912) and many travel books.
Motivated by the atrocities he witnessed to the civilian population in Belgium whilst war correspondent for the Morning Post he was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery on 13 December 1914, over age at 41, and served in France. He was twice wounded in the Battle of the Somme. In 1917-18 he was at the War Office[10] working for MI7, publishing "The Battle of the Ridges" and "The British Army at War" designed to educate the American Public about the British war effort. He then served as Staff Captain at the Quartermaster General's branch, General Headquarters, in France, and wrote a contemporary account of life there ("GHQ" Montreuil-sur-Mer).
Australian military historian Craig Wilcox, author of the book Australia's Boer War, Oxford University Press 2002 wrote:
Fox was a great man, and concerning Morant I think of him not only as the launcher of an Australian legend but also its subtlest and most intelligent storyteller; he confounds Morant’s champions as well as Morant’s detractors, as good literature and insider history ought to do. His little book ( Bushman and Buccaneer- A Memoir of Harry Morant) is often cited, sometimes plundered, but too rarely read.
He married Helena Clint (d. 1958) on 13 June 1894;[11] they had a son and two daughters. Helena Clint was granddaughter of Alfred Clint, President of the Society of British Artists, great-granddaughter of George Clint ARA, and great-niece of Scipio Clint.
Former British Conservative Member of Parliament Dr. Charles Goodson-Wickes is Frank Fox's great-grandson and literary executor.[12]
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