March 2nd, 1888
Cyril Bentham Falls CBE (2 March 1888 – 23 April 1971) was a 20th-century British military historian, journalist, and academic, noted for his works on the First World War.
Falls was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 2 March 1888, the eldest son of Sir Charles Falls, an Ulster landowner in County Tyrone. He received his formal education at the Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, and London University At the age of 27, he published his first book, ‘Rudyard Kipling: A Critical Study’ (1915)
World War I
During World War I he received a commission into the British Army as a subaltern in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He served as a Staff Officer in the Headquarters of the 36th (Ulster) Division and the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division during the conflict. He received the French Croix de Guerre, and was discharged from the British Armed Forces with the rank of captain.
He was a distinguished military historian, journalist, and author, known for his comprehensive work on the history of warfare. Falls served in the British Army during World War I, an experience that informed much of his later work as a military historian.
After the war, Falls embarked on a prolific writing career, producing numerous books and articles on military history and strategy. He is particularly noted for his studies on the First and Second World Wars, bringing both scholarly rigor and firsthand military experience to his analyses. Falls worked for the War Office’s historical section, contributing to the official histories of the First World War, and his expertise was also sought in the field of military education.
Throughout his career, Cyril Falls was respected for his thorough research and his ability to present complex military events in a clear and engaging manner. His contributions to the field of military history have made him a respected figure among historians and military scholars alike.
