May Wedderburn Cannan was a poet active during the First World War. 

She was engaged to Bevil Quiller-Couch, but he tragically died in 1918 during the deadly influenza pandemic, just after the war ended. 

“The Tears of War,” by Charlotte Fyfe, her great-aunt, details their love story, including excerpts from his diaries and her poetry. 

In spring 1915, during the war, May spent four weeks in Rouen helping at the canteen near the railhead. Her memoir, ‘Grey Ghosts and Voices,’ vividly details her frustrations with women's roles and the war effort.

Sharing one of her poems, ‘Love 1916’ - 

One said to me. ‘Seek Love, for he is Joy
Called by another name’.
A second said, ‘Seek Love, for he is Power
Which is called Fame’.
Last said a Third, ‘Seek Love, his name is Peace’.
I called him thrice,
And answer came, ‘Love now is christened Sacrifice’.