233:"Police and military will patrol the country roads at least five nights a week. They are not to confine themselves to the main roads but make across the country, lie in ambush, take cover behind fences near roads, and when civilians are seen approaching shout: 'Hands up!' Should the order be not obeyed, shoot, and shoot with effect. If the persons approaching carry their hands in their pockets or are in any way suspicious looking, shoot them down. You may make mistakes occasionally and innocent persons may be shot, but that cannot be helped and you are bound to get the right persons sometimes. The more you shoot the better I will like you; and I assure you that no policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man and I will guarantee that your names will not be given at the inquest."
273:"I wish to make the present situation clear to all ranks. A policeman is perfectly justified in shooting any person seen with arms (guns) who does not immediately throw up his hands when ordered. A policeman is perfectly justified in shooting any man who he has good reason to believe is carrying arms (guns) and who does not immediately throw up his arms when ordered. Every proper precaution will be taken at police inquests that no information will be given to Sinn Fein as to the identity of any individual or the movements of the police. I wish to make it perfectly clear to all ranks that I will not tolerate reprisals. They bring discredit on the police and I will deal most severely with any officer or man concerned in them."
186:"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although seriously wounded he remained at the telephone in an ill-protected trench for many hours during a critical time, to report the course of events to Brigade Headquarters. He realised that there was no other officer of experience to replace him and his sense of duty may cost him his remaining arm, the other having been amputated as a result of a previous wound."
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entered and allegedly said to him, "Colonel, were not your orders to shoot on sight? Well you are in sight now, so prepare." Colonel Smyth jumped to his feet before being riddled with bullets. Despite being shot twice in the head, once through the heart and twice through the chest, the
Colonel
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Smyth would finish his First World War service as a brevet brigadier general commanding the 93rd
Infantry Brigade of the 31st Division, despite being only 33. He would spend a year at Staff College before accepting command of the 12th Field Company in Cork on 7 June 1920, later being appointed
176:, the only unit to attain its objective on 3 May 1917. He was cited for a mention in dispatches for "consistent skill and daring," after being severely wounded, receiving shrapnel pieces in his right shoulder which at the time was believed would permanently weaken his arm. The citation in the
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were later convicted of firearms offences. The date of Smyth's burial coincided with the mass expulsion or "clearing" of
Catholics, Socialists and Protestants (that were considered disloyal) from Belfast's shipyards, foundries, linen mills and other commercial concerns that was part of
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29 July 1905 and excelled in mathematics and the
Spanish language. He was posted to Gibraltar, serving with the 32nd and 45th companies and spending his free time with polo, photography and mountaineering, sustaining a serious injury to his shoulder during a trip to the
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who renamed Loyal Orange Lodge 518 as the 'Colonel Smyth
Memorial Lodge' (Steritt was similarly commemorated by Orange Lodge 257). According to historians Tom Mahon and James Gillogly, "Smyth was the most senior police officer killed in the conflict."
250:, responded to Smyth's speech by placing his gun on the table and calling Smyth a murderer. Smyth ordered Mee's arrest, but the RIC men present refused. Mee and thirteen other RIC officers resigned, with most going on to join or assist the
152:, Chatham. He was sent to France on 17 August 1914 with the 14th Company and promoted to Captain in October. Serving throughout the war he was seriously injured on a number of occasions, losing his left arm at the elbow during the
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206:: "No words can do justice to his services during the retreat of 1914. He was the life and soul of the Company, his Irish humour and pluck did wonders in maintaining the discipline of the Company".
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329:, a group of British intelligence officers in Dublin sent specially to spy on leading IRA figures. Osbert Smyth was fatally shot in October 1920 while trying to arrest IRA members
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Colonel Smyth's speech marked him for attention from the IRA. He subsequently returned to Cork and took lodgings at the Cork & County Club, an
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Smyth volunteered at the outbreak of World War I even though he had been offered a position as
Professor of Mathematics at the
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and
Inspector John M. Regan, who were both present at the occasion. Smyth was summoned to London to brief Prime Minister
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Smyth's brother, George Osbert Smyth, allegedly became a member of the Dublin
District Special Branch, nicknamed the
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whilst rescuing a wounded soldier who was caught in the open under heavy shellfire. From 1916 onwards he left the
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104:. Smyth had one brother, George Osbert Smyth, who also served as a British Army officer. Both served in the
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seven times and awarded the DSO twice. He served with the 6th
Battalion of the KOSB at the
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507:"Gerald Brice Ferguson Smyth - Soldiers and their units - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum"
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on 21 July 1920. His funeral was followed by a three-day sectarian riot during which a
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William Steritt was shot and killed, two days after attending his funeral. Three
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Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society 2006. p. 245
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officer and police officer who was at the centre of a mutiny in the ranks of the
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and his own written account of his remarks was read to Parliament and debated:
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later reported that it was polemically based to discredit British governance.
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A picture of the Smyth brothers: Osbert Smyth (left) and Gerald Smyth (right)
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Smyth was educated privately and as a pupil of Strangeways School and then
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staggered to the passage where he dropped dead. He was 34 years old.
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There has been debate over the accuracy of this reported speech. The
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In June 1920, Colonel Smyth was sent to Ireland at the height of the
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British military personnel killed in the Irish War of Independence
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On 19 June 1920 Smyth allegedly made a speech to the ranks of the
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540:, various writers, page 133, Mercier Press, Cork reprinted 2009
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In his memoirs, Brigadier General Walker wrote of Smyth in the
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However, Mee's claims were denied by Smyth plus Major General
451:, a Catholic officer in the RIC and RUC, 1908–1948, p.150
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in Ireland where he served with the 17th Field Company.
521:"Sinton Family Trees - Smyths Of The Bann - Appendix C"
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Police misconduct during the Irish War of Independence
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Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
716:British police officers killed in the line of duty
731:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
597:Departed Warriors: The Story of One Family in War
487:Departed Warriors; The Story of One Family in War
468:Departed Warriors; The Story of One Family in War
289:. On the evening of 17 July 1920 he was in the
108:and in Ireland during the War of Independence.
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736:Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium)
229:RIC in which he was reported to have said:
127:, Gerald Smyth was commissioned into the
635:Tom Mahon and James J. Gillogly (2008),
84:Gerald Smyth was born at Phoenix Lodge,
48:(7 September 1885 – 17 July 1920) was a
393:"Ireland List - The Easter Week Series"
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726:King's Own Scottish Borderers officers
706:British Army personnel of World War I
345:, 21 November 1920, on the orders of
254:. Mee became a confidant and ally of
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756:People educated at Shrewsbury School
150:Royal School of Military Engineering
136:mountains. In 1913 he was posted to
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761:Military personnel of British India
426:. PoliceHistory.com. Archived from
301:Colonel Gerald Smyth was buried at
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701:Royal Irish Constabulary officers
379:www.raymondscountydownwebsite.com
182:of 18 July 1917 read as follows:
125:Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
60:. He was shot and killed by the
27:British Army officer (1885–1920)
320:the Troubles of the early 1920s
293:when a six-man IRA team led by
571:Moore, Cormac (15 July 2020).
375:"Raymonds County Down Website"
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721:Deaths by firearm in Ireland
422:Gaughan, J. Anthony (1974).
191:divisional commander of the
166:Kings Own Scottish Borderers
619:, Stair Gillon, pp.376–378
538:Rebel Cork's Fighting Story
449:The Memoirs of John M Regan
34:Gerald Bryce Ferguson Smyth
18:Gerald Bryce Ferguson Smyth
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525:www.sinton-family-trees.uk
352:Smyth was honoured by the
617:The KOSB in the Great War
211:Irish War of Independence
58:Irish War of Independence
696:Royal Engineers officers
424:"Listowel Police Mutiny"
193:Royal Irish Constabulary
54:Royal Irish Constabulary
246:One officer, Constable
204:Royal Engineers Journal
170:mentioned in despatches
115:between 1899 and 1901.
46:Belgian Croix de guerre
552:, Dublin, 20 July 1920
397:freepages.rootsweb.com
295:Dan "Sandow" O'Donovan
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42:French Croix de Guerre
691:People from Banbridge
412:, 26 July 1920, p. 8.
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164:and served with the
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154:Battle of the Aisne
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681:1885 births
647:. Page 273.
550:Irish Times
335:Seán Treacy
307:County Down
287:social club
284:Anglo-Irish
138:the Curragh
98:County Down
56:during the
38:DSO and Bar
675:Categories
661:CWGC entry
625:1843422565
495:1906510709
476:1906510709
434:20 October
361:References
339:Drumcondra
327:Cairo Gang
311:Protestant
80:Background
645:Cork City
331:Dan Breen
303:Banbridge
168:. He was
94:Banbridge
86:Dalhousie
68:in 1920.
607:), p.211
489:, p.209
470:, p.207
227:Listowel
221:Listowel
158:Givenchy
666:Profile
215:Munster
197:Munster
102:Ireland
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455:
90:Punjab
582:5 May
278:Death
621:ISBN
601:ISBN
584:2022
491:ISBN
472:ISBN
453:ISBN
436:2009
333:and
66:Cork
44:and
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