Cyril Falls was born in Dublin and was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, at Bradford College and London University. In the First World War he served with the British army, and for sixteen years from 1923 he worked with a team writing the official history of the war. From 1939 to 1953 he was military correspondent of The Times. He published many books, including The History of the 36th (Ulster) Division; Elizabeth's Irish Wars and Mountjoy: Elizabethan General. He was a regular contributor to the Illustrated London News. He died in England.