John Hay Beith was a Scottish schoolmaster, soldier, playwright, and novelist. He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and St. Johns College, Cambridge. He was a second-lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was sent to France in April 1915 where he was awarded the Military Cross. He was later Director of Public Relations at the War Office (1938 - 1941). As "Ian Hay", he was also a novelist and playwright.