Major General Cecil Arthur Callaghan, CB, CMG, DSO, VD (31 July 1890 – 1 January 1967) was an Australian Army officer who served during the First and the Second World Wars.

[1] After Britain's declaration of war against Germany in August 1914, Callaghan joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and was shipped to the Middle East with the 2nd Battery[2] of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade.

After being promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel and being placed in command of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, he spent a month as a liaison officer to French troops in June 1918.

[1] Callaghan remained in the Citizens Militia Force (CMF) and in this capacity commanded various field artillery brigades from 1920 to 1926, as well as working in his family's footwear business (which would earn him the nickname "Boots").

[1] Following the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Callaghan was returned to active service in the Royal Australian Artillery, promoted to brigadier in November, and assigned as CRA of Eastern Command.

[7] Originally intended for the Middle East, one brigade (the 22nd) of the 8th Division embarked to Malaya in February 1941 to counter the growing threat from the Japanese Empire.

Percival promoted him to temporary major general to ensure Callaghan had sufficient status with the Japanese as commander of all Australian forces in Singapore.

As a result of malaria, dysentery and the generally harsh conditions experienced by most prisoners of the Japanese, he lost a considerable amount of weight.