TEIGNMOUTH & SHALDON

 

 

John (“Jackie”) George Smyth was born in 1893, in Ferndale Road, Teignmouth.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross when he was 22 years old and serving with the Ludhiana Sikhs on the Western Front

On 18^th May 1915, at Richebourg L’Avoue in France, a company of Sikhs came under counter attack in a captured German trench.  They were in danger of being overwhelmed after bombing parties had twice failed to relieve them.  Lt. Smyth made a third successful attempt.  He took ten volunteers with 96 grenades into No Man’s Land.  Eight were killed or wounded, but Smyth and two others carried the bombs across a deep stream under heavy fire.  For his bravery Smyth was awarded the Victoria Cross.

John George Smyth was also invested with the Military Cross in July 1921 following action on the N.W. Frontier, India, in October 1919.

Illness ended his military career in 1942 and he became a military correspondent. He served as Conservative Member of Parliament from 1950 – 66, was created a Baronet in 1955, and a Privy Counsellor in 1962.  John Smyth died in 1983 in London.

 ‘ his courage was legendary and he was said to bear a charmed life’.

From his obituary in The Times

 

Awarded the Victoria Cross, Military Cross, 1914 Star, clasp "5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914", British War Medal (1914-20), Military Cross, Victory Medal (1914-19) + "MiD Oakleaf", Indian General Service Medal (1908-35) 5 clasps: Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-2, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1930-3, North West Frontier 1935, General Service Medal (1918-62) 1 clasp: Iraq, 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal ( 1939-45 ) War Medal ( 1939-45 ) + "MiD Oakleaf", King George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, King George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977, Cross of St George ( 4th Class ) ( Russia ) 

 

Family

Parents: William John Smyth - born 2 May 1869, Sidmouth, Devon (Indian Civil Service) and Lillian May Cliff
Siblings: Brigadier Herbert Edward Fitzroy Smyth MC and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Malcolm Smyth OBE

 1^st Family:

• Margaret Dundas, 22 July 1920, Brompton Oratory, London ( dissolved )
• Son: John, born 1921 ( killed in action, 7 May 1944, Kohima, Assam )
• Son: Julian, born 1923 ( died of cancer, Australia, 29 April 1974 )
• Son: Robin, born 1926
• Daughter: Jill, born 1931

 

2^nd Family:

• Frances Read, 12 April 1940, Southsea, Hampshire

 

Service Record:

• 2nd Lieutenant - 24 August 1912
• Lieutenant - 24 November 1914
• Captain - 24 August 1916
• Brevet Major - 1 January 1928
• Major - 24 August 1929
• Brevet Lieutenant Colonel - 1 July 1933
• Lieutenant Colonel - 16 July 1936
• T / Brigadier - 5 February 1940 to 2 April 1941
• Colonel - 23 December 1940
• A / Brigadier - 15 June 1941 to 19 October 1941
• A / Major General - 20 October 1941 to March 1942
• Honorary Brigadier - 7 November 1942 ( upon retirement on medical grounds).

 

Operations:

Attached 1st Bn, The Yorkshire Regiment (training in the Punjab, India)

• October 1912 to October 1913,

 

Joined 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, Indian Army, in Baluchistan

• 5 November 1913,

 

WWI, Western Front, France - 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, Indian Army

• September 1914 to August 1915

 

Egypt, Ismailia (Canal Defence), 15th Ludhiana Sikhs

• August 1915 to November 1915

 

Senussi Campaign, Western Desert, North Africa, 15th Ludhiana Sikhs

• November 1915 to February 1916

 

Mohmand Blockade, North West Frontier, India, 15th Ludhiana Sikhs

• October 1916 to December 1916

 

Third Afghan War & North West Frontier, India

• Brigade Major, 43rd Infantry Brigade, Indian Army
• May 1919 to May 1920

  Sir John George Smyth 1st Bt by Jack1956 ( CC BY 3.0 )

Campaign Medal

India General Service Medal 1902 - 1935, 3 clasps:

• Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919,
• Mahsud 1919-20,
• Waziristan 1919-21

 

(June 1920 (in England) - seconded for service in Mesopotamia (see below)

Mesopotamia (now Iraq), Arab Insurrection

• Brigade Major, 74th Infantry Brigade, British Army
• 19 July 1920 to 16 February 1921

 

General Service Medal 1918 - 1962, 1 clasp;

• Iraq

 

GSO 3, Intelligence Branch, Army HQ Delhi, India

• 13 January 1922 to 10 December 1922

 

Student, Staff College, Camberley, Surrey

• 1923 to 1925

 

GSO 2, Directorate of Military Training, Army HQ Delhi, India

• 27 November 1925 to 21 November 1929

 

Peshawar, North West Frontier, India

• 2nd / 11th Sikh Regiment (Ludhiana Sikhs)
• 1930

 

India General Service Medal 1902 - 1935, 1 clasp;

• Afghanistan N.W.F. 1930-31

 

GSO 2, Indian Army Instructor, Staff College, Camberley, Surrey

 

Other Gallantry Awards

18 May 1915 - RichebourgL'Avoué (Battle of Festubert), France

VC Invested 12 July 1915 - by King George V at Buckingham Palace

VC Gazetted [ London Gazette, 29 June 1915 ] RichebourgL'Avoué (Battle of Festubert), France, 18th May 1915.

16 January 1931 to 15 January 1934

Mohmand Operations, North West Frontier, India

- 2nd i / c, 3rd / 11th Sikh Regiment (Rattray's Sikhs)

-- 1935

Campaign Medal India General Service Medal 1902 - 1935, 1 clasp; North West Frontier 1935

Chitral Relief Force, North West Frontier

- command 3rd / 11th Sikh Regiment (Rattray's Sikhs)

- 21 September 1936 to 1938

Seconded to the Home Office (for civil defence preparations)

- August 1939

GSO 2, 2nd London Division

- 27 September 1939 to January 1940

Command 127th Infantry Brigade (Manchester Brigade) TA

-British Expeditionary Force (including withdrawal from Dunkirk May 1940)

- 5 February 1940 to 2 April 1941

Command 36th Infantry Brigade, Baluchistan, India

- May 1941 to October 1941

Command 18th (19th) Indian (Dagger) Division, Secunderabad, India

- October 1941

GOC 17th (Indian) Division, Burma

20 December 1941 to March 1942

 

World War Two Campaign Medals

- 1939-45 Star

- Burma Star

- Defence Medal 1939-45

- War Medal 1939-45 with " MID Oakleaf "

Retired on medical grounds - 7 November 1942

 

Victoria Cross

At 21 years old, and as a Lieutenant in the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 3rd (Lahore) Division, Indian Army in June 1915, his actions earned him the Victoria Cross (VC).

 

For most conspicuous bravery near Richebourg L'Avoue on 18 May 1915. With a bombing party of 10 men, who voluntarily undertook this duty, he conveyed a supply of 96 bombs to within 20 yards of the enemy's position over exceptionally dangerous ground, after the attempts of two other parties had failed.

 

Lieutenant Smyth succeeded in taking the bombs to the desired position with the aid of two of his men (the other eight having been killed or wounded), and to effect his purpose he had to swim a stream, being exposed the whole time to howitzer, shrapnel, machine-gun and rifle fire.

Victoria Cross citation
Published in the London Gazette

 

Military Cross - 22 October 1919, Tochi Valley, Waziristan, North West Frontier, India (recommended for a 'Bar' to his Victoria Cross by General Gwyn-Thomas, October 1919).

MC Invested 21 July 1921 - by HRH Duke of York at Buckingham Palace

MC Gazetted [London Gazette, 27 September 1920]

Waziristan, North West Frontier, 22nd October 1919. Captain John George Smyth, 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, Indian Army, Headquarters, 43rd Infantry Brigade.

For gallantry and initiative at Khajuri, Tochi Valley, on the 22nd October 1919, when, having been sent forward from Idak to clear up the situation, his quick appreciation, disposition and leadership averted a serious disaster and contributed largely towards the saving of a valuable convoy attacked by the enemy.

 

He showed great gallantry under heavy fire, inspired his command, and brought the convoy safely to Idak.

MC Citation
Published in the London Gazette

 

Orders 1955 created a Baronet - styled '1st Baronet, of Teignmouth'.

As John Smyth was created a baronet he was entitled to wear the Baronet's Badge, worn at the neck suspended from a blue-edged orange ribbon. The Baronet's Badge had to be purchased privately.

However, no photograph exists that shows John Smyth wearing the Badge, nor is it included in his VC medal group, therefore, it can be assumed he did not buy it.

 

 

The image at the top of the page Sir John George Smyth, 1st Bt by Bassano Ltd, bromide print, 26 November 1947. NPG x84809 © National Portrait Gallery, London is © National Portrait Gallery, London ( CC- By-NC-ND-3.0 )