He was injured serving in the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I and was an unsuccessful soldier settler before turning to writing.
He served as an officer during World War II and was on duty the night of the Cowra breakout.
His parents were William Henry Timms, a chemist from Worcester, England, and Bertha Bawden, from Victoria.
[2] Timms studied electrical engineering before being commissioned in the 1st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, on 27 August 1914.
Timms began to publish stories, then novels, and eventually became one of the most popular writers in Australia.
He was best known for his historical romances, although he also wrote radio scripts, adventure stories, biographies and screenplays.