Trivia

He joined Durham School in 1902 as junior science master, and also coached the rugby and boating crews. Durham featured in one of his best books 'The Housemaster' (1938), which includes the famous differentiation between 'funny peculiar' and 'funny ha-ha'.

Was chairman of the Society of Authors from 1942 until his death in 1952.

Some of his later plays were written in collaboration with Seymour Hicks, P.G. Wodehouse and A.E.W. Mason.

From 1938 to 1941 served as director of public relations for the British War Office with the rank of major general.

Awarded the Silver Cross for bravery in action during the First World War.

In 1917/18, as member of the British Military Mission, he went on a lecture tour of America.

Remembered for his book "The First Hundred Thousand", a collection of humorous sketches of military life in the early days of World War I.