Edward Vivian Timms (1895–1960), better known as E. V. Timms, was an Australian novelist and screenwriter. He was injured serving in the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I and was an unsuccessful soldier settler before turning to writing. He became a popular novelist, and also wrote scripts for films and radio. He served as an officer during World War II and was on duty the night of the Cowra breakout. He has been called "Australia's greatest historical novelist."[1]

Biography

Timms was born in Charters Towers, Queensland. His parents were William Henry Timms, a chemist from Worcester, England, and Bertha Bawden, from Victoria. After William Timms died in 1898, Bertha and Timms moved to Western Australia where she married a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Angus King. The family lived in Coolgardie and Fremantle (where Timms was taught at Fremantle Boys School by Thomas Blamey), before moving to Sydney.[2]

War service

Timms studied electrical engineering before being commissioned in the 1st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, on 27 August 1914.[3] He was promoted to lieutenant on 15 March 1915 and took part in the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April. He was wounded and invalided home.

Timms married Alma McRobert on 19 August 1916 and became a soldier settler. However, the experience was an unhappy one and Timms returned to the city.

Writing success

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. In 1935 Timms signed a contract to work with Charles Chauvel.[4]

Cowra break-out

During World War II Timms rejoined the army on 7 June 1940 and served until 21 June 1946.[5] His service was spent in Australia and he finished with the rank of major. From October 1943 he was in change of the Italians at the POW camp in Cowra. During the Cowra breakout he led C company in fending off a rear attack by the Japanese.[6][7]

Later years

After the war Timms resumed his career, but focused increasingly on novel writing. He began a 12-part series of novels set in Australia about the Gubbys, an immigrant family from England.[8] In 1954 he moved to Budgewoi, near Gosford.

Death

Timms died on 14 June 1960 of hypertensive heart disease. He was in the process of completing the eleventh novel in the saga, and his wife finished the job for him. She then wrote the 12th novel in the series on her own.

Selected writings

Novels

Children's fiction

Stories

  • "The Four-Fifteen" in: The Australian Woman's Mirror, 1 September vol. 1 no. 41 1925; (p. 5, 58)
  • "The Lamp on the Reef" in: The World's News, 31 August 1932; (p. 28–30)
  • "Escape" in: The Bulletin, 16 December vol. 52 no. 2705 1931; (p. 32)
  • "Marriage" in: The Bulletin, 22 July vol. 52 no. 2684 1931; (p. 38) The Bulletin, 29 January vol. 101 no. 5196 1980; (p. 299–300)
  • "Pearls – and Ethics" in: The Bulletin, 19 May vol. 48 no. 2466 1927; (p. 57–58)
  • "The End of the Day" in: The World's News, 26 October 1932; (p. 28–29)
  • "Peace and Quiet" – Appears in: The Bulletin, 4 January vol. 54 no. 2760 1933; (p. 34)
  • "Always To-Morrow"- appears in: The Bulletin, 10 May vol. 54 no. 2778 1933; (p. 33–34)
  • "Music Hath Charms" — Appears in: The Bulletin, 27 December vol. 54 no. 2811 1933; (p. 39)
  • "Moonstone" in: The World's News, 24 January 1934; (p. 26–27, 32.)
  • "Red Earth" in: The World's News, 11 April 1934; (p. 6–7)
  • "Settlin'" in: The World's News, 19 December 1934; (p. 4–5, 32.)
  • "Forgery" in: The World's News, 23 October 1935; (p. 20–21)
  • "Flood at Night" in: The World's News, 14 March 1934; (p. 20–23)
  • "The Shaft" in: The World's News, 5 December 1934; (p. 11)
  • "Four Pegs to a Claim" – in: The World's News, 3 June 1936; (p. 24–25, 33)
  • "The Servant of Allah" in: The World's News, 8 April 1936; (p. 24–25, 32.)
  • "The Smile" in: The World's News, 18 March 1936; (p. 24–25)
  • "At the Nod of Allah" in: The World's News, 26 February 1936; (p. 24–25, 33, 38)
  • "A Delicatessen Situation" – Appears in: The World's News, 2 December 1936; (p. 24–25, 32)
  • "The Ghost Ship" – Appears in: The World's News, 3 February 1937; (p. 24–25, 38)
  • "The Trap" – Appears in: The World's News, 10 February 1937; (p. 24–25)
  • "That Man Gerrard" – Appears in: The Australian Women's Weekly, 20 March 1937; (p. 8, 14)
  • "The Tramp of Armed Men" – Appears in: The World's News, 15 September 1937; (p. 8–9, 40.)
  • "The Savage Way" – Appears in: The Australian Women's Weekly, 20 November 1937; (p. 8, 16, 22)
  • "No Trespass" – appears in: The Australian Women's Weekly, 29 January 1938; (p. 6, 38, 54)
  • "Green Jacket" – Appears in: The Australian Women's Weekly, 23 April 1938; (p. 8, 18, 20)
  • "Woman on Board" – Appears in: The Australian Women's Weekly, 27 August 1938; (p. 8–9)
  • "The Blue Pool Mystery" (1924)
  • "Night Operator" (1945)

Screenplays

Radio plays

  • Green Junk (1936)
  • Auf Wiedersehen (1936)
  • The Dover Treaty (1936)
  • The Crucifix (1936)
  • The Clock Strikes Eight (1936)
  • It Is Written (1936)
  • The Lamp on the Sea (1936)
  • The Shadow Man (1936)
  • The Shadow Man Again (1936)
  • Lionel Dare, BA, LLB (1936)
  • The Valley of Adventure (1937)
  • The Three Diggers (1938)
  • The Cripple in Black (1939)
  • James! Don't Be a Fool (1940)

Complete copies of stories

Television miniseries

Luke's Kingdom, a joint British/Australian television miniseries which aired in 1976, was based on his works.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "EV Timms Dies". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 June 1960.
  2. ↑ Barker, Anthony (1990). "Timms, Edward Vivian (1895–1960)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  3. ↑ E.V. Timms request for commission at National Archives of Australia
  4. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN FILMS". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 31 January 1935. p. 13. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  5. ↑ E.V. Timms World War 2 record at WW2 Roll
  6. ↑ "Death or dishonour". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 20 November 1965. p. 13. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (29 September 2019). "Ten Stories About Australian Screenwriters You Might Not Know". Filmink.
  8. ↑ "THE VALLEY OF ADVENTURE". The Southern Mail. Bowral, NSW: National Library of Australia. 3 August 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "A Historical Romance". The Queenslander. National Library of Australia. 21 April 1932. p. 44. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "E. V. TIMMS' New Novel "CONFLICT"". The Northern Star. Lismore, NSW: National Library of Australia. 7 July 1934. p. 15. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "E.V. Timms writes new type of wartime novel". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 15 June 1940. p. 45. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "BOOKS OF THE WEEK". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 17 December 1927. p. 21. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  13. ↑ AustLit: E.V. Timms
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