Gerald Bryce Ferguson Smyth

Lieutenant-Colonel Gerald Bryce Ferguson Smyth, DSO and Bar, French Croix de Guerre and Belgian Croix de guerre (7 September 1885 – 17 July 1920) was a British Army officer and police officer who was at the centre of an alleged mutiny in the ranks of the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence. He was shot and killed by the Irish Republican Army in Cork in 1920.

Gerald Smyth was born at Phoenix Lodge, Dalhousie, Punjab, India, the eldest son of George Smyth and Helen Ferguson Smyth. His father was the British High Commissioner in the Punjab and his mother was the daughter of Thomas Ferguson of Banbridge, County Down, Ireland. Smyth had one brother, George Osbert Smyth, who also served as a British Army officer. Both served in the First World War and in Ireland during the War of Independence.

A Woolwich graduate, Gerald Smyth was commissioned into the Royal Engineers as a young man and volunteered at the outbreak of World War I even though he had been offered a position as Professor of Mathematics at Chatham. He was sent to France where he was seriously injured on a number of occasions. One of his injuries restricted the use of his left arm. He was mentioned in despatches seven times.

In June 1920 Colonel Smyth was sent to Ireland at the height of the War of Independence. He was seconded to the RIC of which he was appointed Divisional Commissioner for the province of Munster.

On 19 June 1920 Smyth made a speech to the ranks of the Listowel RIC in which he was reported to have said, "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."

...
Wikipedia