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| Divisional Commissioner G.B.F. Smyth |
Gerald Brice Ferguson Smyth was born on 7th September 1885 at Phoenix Lodge, Dalhousie, Punjab, India. He was the eldest son of George and Helen Ferguson Smyth, Helen being the daughter of Thomas Ferguson of Edenderry House, Banbridge. George served as the British High Commissioner in the Punjab.
Gerald was educated at Strangways School, England, then at Shrewsbury from January 1899 to July 1901, and finally as a private pupil of W T Kirkpatrick MA from October 1901 to February 1903. W T Kirkpatrick had been Headmaster of Lurgan College which, under his Headmastership, became one of the most renowned schools in Ireland. It was also the school to which Howard, Norman Dickson, Stanley and Thomas Spencer Ferguson (uncles of Gerald) were sent. Kirkpatrick eventually moved to Surrey, England where he taught private pupils, perhaps his most famous being C S Lewis, whose father Albert had been a friend and contemporary of Stanley Ferguson at Lurgan College.
Under Kirkpatrick's tutelage, Gerald gained a first place entrance to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich on 2nd September 1903 and was commissioned to the Royal Engineers on 29 July 1905, leaving it as a 2nd Lieutenant. Afterwards he went to Chatham, where he excelled in Mathematics and was promoted to Lieutenant on 3rd February 1908. As well as this, Gerald was a first class interpreter in Spanish.
In the same year Gerald was posted to Gibraltar, serving in the 32nd and 45th Companies of the Royal Engineers for the following five years. During his time on 'the rock', he had the opportunity to partake in country sports and rode with the Calpe Hounds. He was also a keen polo player.
On 9th April 1921 "The Field' magazine re-published an article that they had published a decade before on 2nd April 1911. The article told of Gerald's love of photography that had taken him on a trek into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the company of a fellow officer W M Congreave. The two had set out to study and, if possible, photograph the Lammergeyer, a type of vulture with a large appetite for bone marrow which they extract from bones by taking them high into the air and dropping them onto rocks below to smash them. They were led through the mountains by one of the natives and brought to a ledge which looked towards a cave. Congreave fired his pistol and from the cave flew the Lammergeyer. The cave was situated about 100ft from the ground and was impossible to reach by ascending the cliff, so instead they had to descend from the top of the cliff which was some 350ft high. Unfortunately a fog rolled in and the attempt to reach the cave had to be put off until the next day.
The following day was not much better and in the course of the descent Gerald was almost killed by a boulder falling toward him. Luckily he saw it falling and kicked himself from the cliff face to try and avoid the boulder but unfortunately it struck him, tearing through his clothing and leaving a nasty gash on his shoulder. This put an end to his Lammergeyer research and photography!
After leaving Gibraltar in 1913 he was appointed to the 17th Field Company of the Royal Engineers at the Curragh, under special request of the Officer Commanding with whom he had served in the 32nd Company, Royal Engineers in Gibraltar.
On the outbreak of the Great War, he was offered the Chair of Mathematics at Chatham, but he declined in order to remain with the 17th Field Company of the Royal Engineers.
He embarked for France on 17th August 1914 whilst still serving in the 17th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Promotion for Gerald was always quick and hi October he was promoted to Captain. His ability and courage attracted attention. Brigadier-General Walker, in a memoir to the Royal Engineers Journal, wrote: "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. "
In 1914, a long period of time was spent in the village of Missy in the Aisne area. In September he was leading No: 1 Section. On the 18th of that month, his section was engaged in entrenchment work from the bridge to Missy village and also clearing the field of fire. The following day they were improving defences. On 24* September Sections 1 and 4 were in Jury Valley in the Givenchy area with infantry fatigue parties of 100 men each. All of the month of September was spent improving defences.
On 17th October his Section was with the Devonshire Regiment. The following day they advanced 400 yards and he helped them to dig in. On 23rd October he found himself at Rue de Bethune erecting wire entanglements. While placing wire entanglements the next day, during the Battle of Aisne at Givenchy, his Section was caught under heavy shelLfire and had to take cover under a bank. Gerald spotted a wounded Non-Commissioned Officer in the open and went to his rescue. In the process he was badly wounded by a high explosive shell, which resulted in his left arm having to be amputated at the elbow, an operation that took place in a field ambulance. He also received an Sins by 6ins wound on his buttock. He received a gratuity of £140 for his wounds and £100 per year wound pension dated from 24th October 1915 until further orders were given for any change. In recognition of his bravery he was gazetted for a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 11th November 1914, presented to him on the occasion of King George V's birthday. He was also mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's first list of Dispatches, dated 18th February 1915.
In early 1915 Gerald was begging to be re-admitted for service. This was granted on 25th February 1915 despite protests from the doctors and offers of staff appointments. An experienced Captain was needed for a Field Company of the Royal Engineers in the 9th Division of the New First Army. Gerald was offered and accepted the position, being stated fit for service on 10th April 1915. He returned to the front as Second in Command of the 90th Field Company of the 9th Division, writing the Battalion's War diary between October 1915 and June 1916.
Once again he was injured, though not by way of the Germans. On 27th May 1915 he was in a bomb factory at Nieppe Station to study the art of bombing when, at 17:50 hours, a bomb exploded prematurely, killing seven Non-Commissioned Officers and some men. Four Officers were also wounded, Gerald being one of them when he was blown out through a window. Another of those wounded was the Company Commander from whom Gerald had to take over. He remained with the Royal Engineers at Ypres during the winter of 1915 and spring of 1916. He saw action at the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916. He was promoted to a Brevet Major for his services in the King's Birthday Honours.
On 13th July 1916 he was again wounded when he was shot through the neck in the vicinity of Trones Wood during the Battle of the Somme. Whilst beckoning on his men with the stump of his left arm, the bullet passed through his neck from the left side to the front of the thyroid membrane where, luckily for him, it did not cause injury to any structure of importance. He was granted leave of absence from 17th July to 23rd August, departing Le Havre for Southampton.
On 31st August 1916 he reported for training at the Royal Engineers depot at Aldershot, England and he may have visited Ireland during his leave of absence, before returning to resume command of the Battalion on 19th September 1916.
Gerald's planning and leadership qualities had been well observed at higher level and it was suggested that he should not return to the field of battle. He was offered any privilege he wanted not to go back to the front, but it was an offer which the soldier in him refused. He returned to the front and within a short time he transferred from the Royal Engineers and joined the 6th KOSB (King's Own Scottish Borderers) as Company Commander, taking over his post on 18th November 1916 with the rank of Brevet Major. Between 26th and 28th February 1917 the Battalion generally spent their time clearing up. A few hours in the morning was devoted to field training, especially practising efficient use of their new box respirators (gas masks), while on some of the afternoons football was allowed. The men were also issued with new clothes.
A night attack was planned at the cast of Arras on 3rd May 1917. At 03:30 hours Gerald's Battalion attacked the western slopes of Greenland Hill and at 05:50 hours in the heat of the action Gerald was severely wounded, receiving shrapnel pieces in his right shoulder, which at the time it was thought would permanently weaken his arm. He was cited for a mention in Dispatches for "consistent skill and daring" and was awarded a Bar to his DSO for this action. The citation in the 'London Gazette' of 18th July 1917 read as follows: "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." His Battalion was the only one to reach its objective on the whole British front on 3rd May 1917.
He left Calais on 13th May aboard the 'Stadt Antwerpen', arriving in Dover the same day. On 14th May he was in the King Edward VII Hospital for Officers where he was kept from active service for between three and six months. At his own request he had written to the War Office seeking to be reinstated for active service, a request which was granted on 30th August 1917, but for general service only. On 22nd September he again embarked for France and on 24th October 1917 he took over active command of his Battalion which was billeted at Irish Farm. He took them via Wormhoudt to Uxem near Dunkirk. On the 28th welcome news came that they were to go to the seaside, being billeted at Malo-les-Bains for two weeks' leave.
At Bois St Pierre-Vaast Gerald, under orders, withdrew with both A and B Company under the cover of darkness and marched northwards with the idea of assisting Brigade HQ and the remainder of the Brigade. He had not completely recovered from his wounds, but this did not prevent him being at the front for the German Push of 1918. In the fiercest of the fighting he was holding a heavily attacked flank near Sorel, whilst on 23rd March he was on the new line in St Pierre-Vaast Wood, Moislains where he again skilfully held a badly attacked flank and was once again wounded. While in hospital he ran up and down the stairs to prove to a sceptical Medical Board that he was fit for active service. He was described as "that incarnation of the fighting spirit." The gunshot wound to the left of his chest caused a haemorrhage. Once again, he departed Calais for Dover and finally to hospital, the King Edward VII annexe, London. His address was recorded at the time as 96 Piccadilly West, possibly his mother's address. On 15th May 1918 he sent a letter requesting to be examined "as soon as possible."
Gerald was returned to duty on 1st June 1918 and in July 1918 he had the difficult task of attacking the Hoegenacker Ridge. In August he took part in a battle near Meteren, leading his Battalion across Passchendaele Ridge. He led his troops up Hill 41 at Ledeghem on 1st October and withheld an advanced and exposed right flank.
On 29th September 1918 Gerald, with Companies 'C' and 'D' of 6th KOSB, prevented the Germans from taking a position known as Flanderen Stellung and Dadizeele.
On 1st October 1918 he commanded his last action as Commanding Officer of the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers. He referred to it as a 'dud show.' The 6th KOSB and the Royal Scots were to take the village of Ledeghem beyond the Roulers-Menin road. At 05:30 hours the attack began under a smoke barrage and the KOSBs came under heavy machine gun fire from Hill 41. The area had once been taken by the Ulster Division but had again been lost. An Irish Battalion were more successful on Hill 41. The Scottish Battalion's efforts were not complete and the area was not taken on this day. It was, however, taken successfully by another Division on 14th October 1918.
In October he was promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General, commanding the 93rd Infantry Brigade of the 31st Division, at the young age of 33 years. On 31st October 1918 a Battalion dinner was held at which General Smyth is recorded as having been present. He remained with them until they were disbanded in 1919.
In Captain Stair Gillion's book 'The King's Own Scottish Borderers in the Great War', Gerald received numerous mentions, Gillion describing him as a "one-armed Irish warrior of dauntless courage."
After the end of the First World War, he was on the Army list for a 'special appointment' which could not be publicly listed. After 1919 he was specially selected for Staff College for a year, after which he arrived for duty in Cork on 7th June 1920 in command of the 12th Field Company, Royal Engineers as Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. Due to Gerald's great knowledge and skill, Major-General H H Tudor of the 9th Division made him Divisional Commissioner of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Minister. As he was in the job for only a short period of time, he never received a police rank but retained the Army rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
The Listowel Mutiny
In the Listowel Barracks on 19th June 1920 he is reputed as having made a speech saying:"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 whom 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."
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| Listowel Barracks (2014) |
At the time many were doubtful of the authenticity of this statement, considering it to have been fabricated.
After this speech he was called to London for a meeting with the Prime Minister Lloyd George and the speech was later read and debated in Parliament.
Murder of Smyth
Regardless of which version of the speech he actually made, Gerald was now a marked man and on the night of 17th July 1920, whilst he was in the smoking room of the Cork and County Club, 14 Sinn Feiners entered the building. Four or five of them rushed to the smoking room were Gerald, Inspector Craig and two other gentlemen were sitting. The following is a statement made by District Inspector P Riordan:"They burst in through the door and one of them shouted 'Where is he?' The leader shouted 'Hands up', then opened fire, riddling his face, forehead and neck with bullets. After being shot, he sprang from his seat but it was evidently a death effort for he was fatally wounded. He rushed to the hallway but after a few yards he dropped dead."
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| Cork County Club in the 1990's |
When his body was lifted from the floor his gun was found in his hand. He was conveyed by ambulance to the Cork Central Military Hospital.
Records dated 24th January 1921 at General Head-Quarters, Parkgate, Dublin state that at the time of his death, Gerald was not employed under the Military Authorities. No official report was made of his death.
Problems arose in Cork when nobody could be found to drive the train to take his body to Dublin. This resulted in the body having to be brought from Cork to Dublin by motor transport and then by train to Belfast. A special train was assigned to bring his body back to Banbridge. His uncles Norman Dickson Ferguson, Stanley Ferguson, James W Murland and cousin Captain William Murland, under threat of death, (according to the late Jean Ferguson), went to Dublin to collect the body. District Inspector J C L Silcock. Private Secretary' to the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and Captain J J Duffy DL, representing the Commandant and Officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary depot in Dublin, also accompanied the body from Dublin. On arriving at Banbridge Station, the body was carried from the train to the hearse by employees of Ferguson's Edenderry works and then conveyed to Clonaslee, the home of Norman D Ferguson. The inscription on the coffin read:
BREVET LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
GERALD B FERGUSON SMYTH
DSO RE
DIED 17th JULY 1920
AGED 34 YEARS.
Gerald's funeral took place on 20th July 1920 from Clonaslee. It was probably the largest funeral ever seen in Banbridge. His coffin was draped with a Union Jack, his service cap and belt and a wreath from his mother placed on top. At 3pm the coffin was placed on a gun carriage and led through the town. The Rev H Macpherson of Guelph, Ontario, Canada (whose wife and Gerald were cousins) conducted a service in the house. The Macphersons were staying in Warrenpoint after having been on a visit to England to view their son's grave. He had been killed whilst serving with the Royal Air Force. The streets from Clonaslee to the Municipal Cemetery were packed solid with onlookers who had come to pay their final homage to a dear friend.
A special train from Belfast brought 100 men of the 1st Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment who were stationed in Newtownards, accompanied by their brass band, and 100 men of the Royal Irish Constabulary and their band.
Major-General H H Tudor CB CMC, Commander of the 9th Division and Police Advisor; Brigadier-General Sir William Hacket Pain KBE CB, Divisional Police Commissioner for the North of Ireland; Major Leathes (Belfast), representing Brigadier-General Carter Campbell CB DSO, Commander of Troops in Ulster; Lieutenant-Colonel Ritson; Mr J F Gelston, Commissioner of Police (Belfast); Sir Robert Liddell, and Lieutenant-Colonel W J Alien DSO DL MP, on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, all attended the funeral, as did other brother Officers.
As well as the many family wreaths that were laid, there were a few from friends. Two notable ones came from Viscountess Gort, and County Inspector F W Craig who was in the Cork and County Club the night Gerald was murdered, Craig himself being shot in the left leg. Craig remained in the Royal Irish Constabulary until 1922 and was a recipient of the King's Police Medal.
One person missing from his funeral was his brother Osbert. He was serving in Egypt and did not get home. Gerald was laid to rest alongside his father in Row B Plot 101 in Banbridge Municipal Cemetery, in a grave easily recognisable for its ornate lift high Celtic cross. The service was conducted at the grave by the Rev D H Hanson, after which three volleys of shots were fired over the coffin and the Last Post sounded.
A separate memorial was erected by the men who had served with him in the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers, 9th Scottish Division and 90th Field Company, the money for its purchase being sent to J Ewing, former Adjutant 6th KOSB. J Ewing stated that "Gerald was over 6ft tall, was of a commanding presence and was one of the most outstanding personalities in the 9* Division."
An inquest was to be held in Dublin on 19th July 1920 with 16 jurors summoned to attend. On the day-only nine turned up. A Police Constable was ordered to go and get four of the others, but when he returned he informed the court that the others had made various excuses not to attend. Due to this, the inquest could not proceed and was abandoned.
Gerald's murder brought widespread revulsion to the town of Banbridge. During his funeral it is said that the 'Soldiers Song' (the Irish National Anthem) was played from premises in Bridge Street, believed later to have been burnt down by arsonists. Some premises did not close as requested by the Urban Council, the reason supposedly being that Sinn Fein had threatened them with reprisals if they did close their premises. A newsagency belonging to McMahon of Bridge Street, Banbridge, refused to draw their blinds and close the shop during the funeral; they later had their premises ransacked and burnt.
On 22nd July 1920, upwards on 2,000 people paraded through the town. After dispersing, a section of the crowd (approximately 300 to 400 people) converged on Scarva Street where they broke into Henry's Public House and stole alcohol. While there, a shot rang out from a house opposite belonging to Daniel Monaghan, who was known to have Nationalist sympathies. William John Sterritt, aged 17 years, received a bullet to the head and he died at 1:30am on the morning of 23rd July. Two others were injured, Minnie Shields and Fred Wilson. Minnie was shot through the arm, the shot that hit her being aimed at Sergeant Kennedy (RIC). The military arrived from Newry and were fired upon by the Monaghans, then" fire being returned. Daniel Monaghan and his sons Daniel O'Connell Monaghan and Patrick James Monaghan were tried before a court martial in Belfast, charged with the death of William Sterritt, the wounding of Minnie Shields and Fred Wilson, endangering the safety of an Officer of His Majesty's Forces and of endangering the safety of three members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, as well as possessing firearms and ammunition. Daniel and his two sons were acquitted on the charge of discharging firearms to the danger of the military and police. On the charge of possessing revolvers and ammunition, Dan Monaghan was fined £10 and Daniel O'Connell Monaghan (aged 15 years) was fined five shillings, whilst the decision in James Patrick Monaghan's case was promulgated as he refused to recognise the court as an Irish citizen.
Another incident involved the Protestant employees of the 'Banbridge Weaving Company' who demanded the removal of all Sinn Fein workers, the Manager having no alternative but to close down the factory. The workers then proceeded to the other factories in the town and called out their fellow workers with the result that the factories had to close down. The Catholic employees were only permitted back when they signed a document stating: "I hereby declare that I do not belong to Sinn Fein, and that I will not support it or sympathise with it." Committees were appointed from the various works in the vicinity to deal with the matter of those that were thought to support Sinn Fein. In the minute books of the Milltown works dated 11th August 1920, it stated: "Disturbance in work caused by the action of the Banbridge workers as a whole, in regard to Sinn Fein." Catholic workers were asked to swear that they would not support Sinn Fein, the penalty for those who did not co-operate was expulsion from the factory.
Each night the civic guard, under the direction of Ex-District Inspector Sheridan patrolled the streets. A considerable number of military personnel were drafted into the town and were barracked in the Temperance and Town Halls.
The damage claims in Banbridge during this period of unrest totalled £40,000. This included petty damage such as breaking windows and stealing goods from shops to, more seriously, the burning of buildings. Monaghan's premises were burnt, the total damage being estimated at £12,000.
There was a feeling at the time to re-name one of the local Orange Lodges in memory of Gerald. This occurred on 4th October 1920 when Loyal Orange Lodge 518 was re-named the 'Colonel Smyth Memorial.' At the inaugural meeting, Brother S J Fenton JP, a Director of 'F W Hayes & Co Ltd', presided and was assisted by Brother James McMeekin, Deputy Master. The meeting was opened with prayers conducted by Brother Rev Canon Kerr, District Chaplain, the new Officers were installed and the meeting closed. This Lodge is no longer in existence.
In honour of William Sterritt, Gideon's Chosen Few Loyal Orange Lodge 257 changed its name to the 'Sterritt Memorial.' This Lodge also fell into a dormant state in 1986, but the memory of William Sterritt has been revived as this Lodge was re-formed on 8th January 2000.
To summarise, the distinguished military career of Gerald was as follows:
In total, Gerald was wounded at least five times - 24/10/1914 (lost arm), 13/7/1916, 9/4/1917, 3/5/1917 and 23/3/1918.
Mentioned in Dispatches - 19/10/1914, 18/2/1915, 1/1/1916, 15/6/1916, 18/5/1917, 23/12/1918 and 5/7/1919 (eight times on his gravestone).
Awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, French Croix de Guerre and Palm, Belgium Croix de Guerre, Mons Star.
His medals, which I had the great privilege of viewing, are still in Smyth family ownership.
Gerald Brice Ferguson Smyth was a very brave man whose respect for the ordinary soldier was second to none. Should he have lived he may well have become an even more renowned soldier and reached the pinnacle of his profession.
On occasions of free time he returned to Ireland, and to his hometown of Banbridge, where he deserves a position of the utmost respect.
The following poem appeared in the 'Banbridge Chronicle' on 2nd October 1920:
IN MEMORIAM OF GERALD BRICE FERGUSON SMYTH
Loyal and brave and true as tempered steel
In him we lose more than we dare reveal
A depth and insight more like age than youth
Unruffled temper, firm regard for truth
The manly courage, ruling men with ease
Self disciplined, not seeking self to please
The kindly humour, giving life its zest
Gift which nature ever dowers her best
And when we looked on that bright open face
We felt more lenient to the human race.
We grieve, for nature claims her tribute due
But in our grief we find this truth most true
He sleeps, he feels not all our ache and pain
Tis ours to let him in his peace remain
What tho' he fell not on his field of fame
He won the martyr's crown in duty's name.
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