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Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet

2022-09-21T19:16:05Z

2A00:23C5:B320:DF01:54AB:A314:9B07:35E1:

{{Other people|John Smyth}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[Brigadier]] [[The Right Honourable]] [[Sir]]
|name = John Smyth, 1st Baronet
|honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|VC|MC|PC}}
|image= John-smyth-vc.jpg
|image_size = 175px
|alt=
|caption = Sir John Smyth VC, pictured here circa 1973.
|nickname= "Jackie"
|birth_date = {{birth date|1893|10|24|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], [[England]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1983|04|26|1893|10|25|df=yes}}
|death_place= [[Marylebone]], [[London]], [[England]]
|resting_place = Golders Green Cemetery
|office = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwood]]
|term_start = 23 February 1950
|term_end = 10 March 1966
|predecessor = [[Ronald Arthur Chamberlain]]
|successor = [[John Fraser (British politician)|John Fraser]]
|birth_name = John George Smyth
|party = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|spouse =
|children =
|alma_mater = [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
|module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
|allegiance= {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|British India}}
|branch= {{army|United Kingdom}} {{army|British India}}
|serviceyears= 1912–1942
|servicenumber= 49726
|rank= [[File:British Army OF-6.svg|23px]] [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]]
|unit= [[15th Ludhiana Sikhs]] [[11th Sikh Regiment]]
|commands= [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Indian Infantry Division]] [[19th Infantry Division (India)|19th Indian Infantry Division]] {{nobr|[[36th Indian Infantry Brigade]]}} [[127th (Manchester) Brigade|127th Infantry Brigade]]
|battles= {{plainlist|
*[[First World War]]
*[[Third Anglo-Afghan War]]
*[[Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)|Waziristan Campaign]]
*[[Second Mohmand Campaign]]
*[[Second World War]]
}}
|awards= {{plainlist|
*[[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|23px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
*[[File:Military cross BAR.svg|23px]] [[Military Cross]]
*[[Mentioned in Despatches]] (6)
*[[File:RUS Order of Saint George 1st class ribbon 2000.svg|23px]] [[Order of St. George]] 4th class (Russia)
}}
|relations=
|laterwork= [[Privy councillor]] [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]
}}
}}
[[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] '''Sir John George Smyth, 1st Baronet''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|VC|MC|PC}} (24 October 1893 – 26 April 1983),<ref>{{Cite ODNB|title=Smyth, Sir John George, first baronet (1893–1983), army officer and politician|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-63738|access-date=2020-08-08|year = 2004|language=en|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/63738}}</ref> often known as '''Jackie Smyth''', was a [[British Indian Army]] officer and a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]. Although a recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], his military career ended in controversy.

==Early life and education==
[[File:John George Smyth VC drawing.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Drawing of Lieutenant Smyth's VC action, from ''[[The War Illustrated]]'', August 1915.]]

Smyth was born in 1893 in [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], the son of William John Smyth (1869–1893), a member of the [[Indian Civil Service]], and Lilian May Clifford. His grandfather was Army officer [[Henry Smyth (British Army officer, born 1816)|Henry Smyth]], who was the second son of [[John Henry Smyth]] (1780–1822), of [[Heath Hall, Heath, West Yorkshire|Heath Hall, Wakefield]], Yorkshire, a Whig MP for [[Cambridge University (UK Parliament constituency)|Cambridge University]] (1812–1822) and Lady Elizabeth Anne FitzRoy, daughter of [[George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton]]. His great-uncle [[John George Smyth (1815–1869)|John George Smyth]] was an MP for the [[City of York (UK Parliament constituency)|City of York]].<ref name="burke">{{cite book |title= [[Burke's Peerage|Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood]]|publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry |editor= Mosley, Charles |editor-link=Charles Mosley (genealogist) |edition=107 |year= 2003 |page= 3671 |ref=Burke |isbn=0-9711966-2-1}}</ref>

Smyth was educated at [[Dragon School]],<ref name="od">{{cite news| title=Skipper's spirit | page=25 | volume=2017 | number=6 | year=2017 | work=The Old Dragon | publisher=[[Dragon School]] }}</ref> [[Repton School|Repton]], and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]].<ref name="Smart292">Smart, p. 292</ref>

==Military career==

After passing out from Sandhurst, Smyth was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[second lieutenant]] on the unattached list for the [[British Indian Army]] on 24 August 1912,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28638 |date=23 August 1912|page=6287 }}</ref> and was commissioned into the [[15th Ludhiana Sikhs]] on 5 November 1913.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28815 |date=24 March 1914|page=2548 }}</ref> He was promoted to lieutenant on 24 November 1914, three months after the outbreak of the [[World War I|First World War]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29086 |date=2 March 1915|page=2110}}</ref>

He was 21 years old, and a [[lieutenant]] in the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, [[3rd (Lahore) Division]], Indian Army during the First World War, when his actions earned him the [[Victoria Cross]] (VC). In June 1915, Smyth was awarded the VC, the United Kingdom's highest award for bravery in combat. The citation for this award, published in [[the London Gazette]] read:<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29210 |date=29 June 1915 |page=6269}}</ref>

{{quote|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 shell|shrapnel]], [[machine-gun]] and rifle fire.}}

As well as Smyth's VC, the [[Indian Distinguished Service Medal]] was posthumously awarded to the men killed during this incident.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/ |title=Brigadier Sir John Smyth, VC, MC |last=Dhulai |first=Sabki |website=Newslaundry |language=en-UK |access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref> Smyth was also awarded the Russian [[Order of St. George]], Fourth Class, in 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29275 |date=24 August 1915 |page=8504|supp=y }}</ref> and was promoted to [[captain]] on 24 August 1916.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30084 |date=22 May 1917|page=4946}}</ref>

Smyth continued his war service in [[Egypt]] and on the North-West Frontier.<ref name="Smart292"/>

==Between the wars==
In September 1920, when [[brigade major]] of the [[43rd Indian Brigade]], Smyth was awarded the [[Military Cross]] (MC) for distinguished service in the field in [[Waziristan]]. The citation for this award, published in the London Gazette, read:<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32064 |date=24 September 1920 |page=9510 |supp=y }}</ref>

{{quote|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, dispositions 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.}}

In 1923, while serving in India, Smyth played two [[first-class cricket]] matches for the [[Europeans cricket team|Europeans team]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/34438.html |title=Brigadier Sir John Smyth |website=Cricinfo |access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>

Returning to England, he attended the [[Staff College, Camberley]] from 1923 to 1924, and his fellow students included numerous men who would later achieve high command, including [[Arthur Percival]], [[Dudley Graham Johnson|Dudley Johnson]] (a fellow VC recipient), [[Arthur Wakely (British Army officer)|Arthur Wakely]], [[Colville Wemyss]], [[Montagu Stopford]], [[John Halsted (British Army officer)|John Halsted]], [[Frederick Pile]], [[Gordon Macready]], [[Roderic Petre]], [[Alastair MacDougall (British Army officer)|Alastair MacDougall]], [[Edmond Schreiber]], [[Michael Gambier-Parry]], [[Richard Henry Dewing|Richard Dewing]], [[Leslie Hill (British Army officer)|Leslie Hill]], [[Kenneth Loch]], [[Douglas Henry Pratt|Douglas Pratt]], [[Balfour Hutchison]], [[Robert Pargiter (British Army officer)|Robert Pargiter]], [[Robert Stone (British Army officer)|Robert Stone]] and [[Henry Verschoyle-Campbell]] along with [[Horace Robertson]] of the [[Australian Army]] and [[Harry Crerar]] and [[Georges Vanier]] of the [[Canadian Army]].<ref name="Smart292"/> Smyth received a brevet promotion to [[major]] on 1 January 1928, receiving the substantive promotion to major on 24 August 1929.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33344 |date=3 January 1928|page=45}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33538 |date=27 September 1929|page=6169}}</ref> By this time, he was a [[Staff (military)|General Staff Officer Grade 3]] (GSO3) with the 3rd Battalion, [[11th Sikh Regiment]], an appointment he vacated on 22 November 1929.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33577 |date=7 February 1930|page=801}}</ref> An early appointment as the Indian Army instructor at the Staff College, Camberley in 1930 further indicated that Smyth's career was on the fast track, borne out by his appointment as a GSO2 at the Staff College on 16 January 1931, with the local rank of [[lieutenant colonel]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33683 |date=23 January 1931|page=535}}</ref> He received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1933, and relinquished his appointment at the Staff College on 16 January 1934.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33955 |date=30 June 1933|page=4383}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34017 |date=23 January 1934|page=541}}</ref>

On 16 July 1936, Smyth was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant colonel, an illustration of how rapidly his career had thus far progressed.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34326 |date=25 September 1936|page=6141}}</ref> He managed to persuade [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort|Lord Gort]], then the [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] (CIGS) and a former instructor at the Staff College in the mid-1920s, as well as being another fellow VC recipient, to give him an undertaking that he would be given a brigade to command in the United Kingdom should hostilities break out.<ref>Mead (2007), p. 430</ref>

==Second World War==
Having managed to engineer leave from India to the United Kingdom in the summer of 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]], he called in his debt but was disappointed to be seconded to a United Kingdom-based staff job, as GSO1 of the [[47th (London) Infantry Division|2nd London Division]], a second-line [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] (TA) formation, then commanded by [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Harry Willans]], which had only recently been formed.<ref name="Mead430">Mead, p. 430</ref>

In February 1940, after further lobbying, Smyth was appointed to command the [[127th (Manchester) Brigade|127th Infantry Brigade]]. His brigade major was [[Charles Phibbs Jones]], later to become a full general. The brigade was one of three which formed part of the [[42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division]], another TA formation, then commanded by Major General [[William Holmes (British Army officer)|William Holmes]], which from April he led in France as part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF).<ref name="Mead430"/> After the [[Dunkirk evacuation|evacuation from Dunkirk]] in late May, he continued to command the brigade in Britain until he was summoned to return to India in March 1941.<ref name="Mead431">Mead, p. 431</ref> He was promoted to colonel on 23 December 1940.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35216 |date=8 July 1941|page=3972|supp=y }}</ref>

After briefly commanding [[36th Indian Infantry Brigade]] in [[Quetta]] and a period of sick leave, Smyth took command of [[19th Infantry Division (India)|19th Indian Infantry Division]] as an [[Acting (rank)|acting]] major general in October,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35463 |date=20 February 1942|page=844}}</ref> but was reassigned to command [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Indian Infantry Division]] in December. Controversy surrounds his handling of 17th Indian Division in February 1942, during its [[Battle of Sittang Bridge|retreat across the Sittang River]] in [[Burma campaign|Burma]]. It was said that he failed to expedite a strong bridgehead on the enemy's side of the river and was forced, when it came under threat from the Japanese, to order the blowing of the bridge while two-thirds of his division were still on the far side with no other means of crossing the river and therefore dooming them. Seventeen Division were the only formation standing between the Japanese and Rangoon, and this loss therefore led directly to the loss of [[Rangoon]] and Lower Burma. The [[Commander-in-Chief, India]], [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Archibald Wavell|Sir Archibald Wavell]] was furious and sacked Smyth on the spot.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reminiscence by E.R.B. Hudson |title=A Close View of the Disaster at the Sittang Bridge. |url=http://www.miwsr.com/2010/downloads/20100706.pdf |website=Michigan War Studies Review |access-date=27 September 2018}}</ref>

There is also a degree of controversy about Smyth's behaviour as regards his health in this period. He had not recovered from surgery for an anal [[fistula]], which must have caused him significant, and possibly distracting, discomfort, yet managed to be recommended as fit to stay in command by a medical board presided over by the senior doctor in his own division.<ref>James Lunt ''The Retreat from Burma 1941-42'' (David & Charles, 1989) pp. 88, 119-121, 154-6, 278</ref>

Smyth received no further posts and returned to the United Kingdom to retire with a substantive rank of colonel and honorary rank of brigadier.<ref name="Mead433">Mead, p. 433</ref> It took 16 years and revision of the official history before his version of the affair versus that of [[Thomas Jacomb Hutton|General Hutton]], his corps commander, was clarified. Smyth's book, ''Milestones'', 1979, gives his version in which he relates that he had made representations to General Hutton 10 days previously recommending a withdrawal to the west bank of the [[Sittang River]], thus permitting a strong defence line to be established. His recommendation was refused.<ref>''History of the Second World War'' (encyclopedic magazine), p. 876</ref>

==Postwar career==
Smyth went into politics and stood unsuccessfully against [[Ernest Bevin]] in [[Wandsworth Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Wandsworth Central]] at the [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945 general election]]. At the [[1950 United Kingdom general election|1950 election]], he defeated the sitting [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP for [[Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwood]]. He was made a [[baronet]] 23 January 1956 with the style Sir John George Smyth, VC, MC, 1st Baronet Smyth of Teignmouth in the County of Devon<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40695 |date=27 January 1956 |page=566 }}</ref> and a [[privy counsellor]] in 1962.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=42683 |date=25 May 1962 |page=4307|supp=y }}</ref> He retired from Parliament at the [[1966 United Kingdom general election|1966 general election]]; as at 2015 he was the last VC recipient to sit in the Commons.

Smyth was also an author, a playwright, a journalist and a broadcaster. His two brothers were distinguished soldiers, one of whom also became a brigadier. He married twice: firstly Margaret Dundas on 22 July 1920, later dissolved, with whom he had three sons and a daughter; and then Frances Chambers on 12 April 1940. One of his sons, Captain John Lawrence Smyth of the 1st Battalion, [[Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)]], was killed on 7 May 1944, during the first attack on Jail Hill at the [[Battle of Kohima]].

Smyth was cremated at [[Golders Green Crematorium]]. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Imperial War Museum]].

One of Brigadier Smyth's uniforms is on display at the armory of the [[Artillery Company of Newport]] in [[Newport, Rhode Island]], USA.

Smyth was a cat lover and wrote three books on cats, ''Beloved Cats'' (Frederick Muller, 1963), ''Blue Magnolia'' (Frederick Muller, 1964) and ''Ming: The Story of a Cat Family'' (Frederick Muller, 1966).

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*''[[Monuments to Courage]]'' (David Harvey, 1999)
*{{cite book| first=Richard| last=Mead| title=Churchill's Lions: A Biographical Guide to the Key British Generals of World War II| location=Stroud| publisher=Spellmount| year=2007|isbn=978-1-86227-431-0}}
*{{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart| title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War| isbn=1844150496| year=2005| location=Barnesley| publisher=Pen & Sword}}
*''[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]]'' (This England, 1997)
*''[[Scotland's Forgotten Valour]]'' (Graham Ross, 1995)
*''[[VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915]]'' (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)

==Bibliography==
*''Leadership in War, 1939–45; Generals in Victory and Defeat''
*''Leadership in battle 1914–1918 : commanders in action''
*''Story of the George Cross''
*''The Game's the Same''
*''Victoria Cross 1856–1964''
*''The Only Enemy''
*''Paradise Island''
*''Trouble in Paradise''
*''Ann Goes Hunting'' (Max Parrish, 1960)
*''Beloved Cats'' (Frederick Muller, 1963)
*''Blue Magnolia'' (Frederick Muller, 1964)
*''The Rebellious Rani'' (Frederick Muller, 1966)
*''Ming: The Story of a Cat Family'' (Frederick Muller, 1966)

==External links==
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/mmsmyt02.htm Outline of his career]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090623050143/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/golders.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Golders Green)''
*[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/34438.html Cricinfo: Brigadier Sir John Smyth]
*{{Lives of WWI | id= 4181874 | name= John George Smyth }}
*[https://generals.dk/general/Smyth/John_George/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]

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| title = Member of Parliament for [[Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwood]]
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| before = [[Ronald Arthur Chamberlain]]
| after = [[John Fraser (UK politician)|John Fraser]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Smyth, John George}}
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Indian Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People educated at The Dragon School]]
[[Category:People educated at Repton School]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:English cricketers]]
[[Category:Europeans cricketers]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1950–1951]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1951–1955]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1955–1959]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1959–1964]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1964–1966]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:People from Teignmouth]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Second Mohmand Campaign]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Third Anglo-Afghan War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Cross of St. George]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Waziristan Campaign]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Ministers in the third Churchill government, 1951–1955]]
[[Category:Ministers in the Eden government, 1955–1957]]
[[Category:Academics of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Devon]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]

Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet

2022-09-21T19:16:05Z

2A00:23C5:B320:DF01:54AB:A314:9B07:35E1:

{{Other people|John Smyth}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[Brigadier]] [[The Right Honourable]] [[Sir]]
|name = John Smyth, 1st Baronet
|honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|VC|MC|PC}}
|image= John-smyth-vc.jpg
|image_size = 175px
|alt=
|caption = Sir John Smyth VC, pictured here circa 1973.
|nickname= "Jackie"
|birth_date = {{birth date|1893|10|24|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], [[England]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1983|04|26|1893|10|25|df=yes}}
|death_place= [[Marylebone]], [[London]], [[England]]
|resting_place = Golders Green Cemetery
|office = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwood]]
|term_start = 23 February 1950
|term_end = 10 March 1966
|predecessor = [[Ronald Arthur Chamberlain]]
|successor = [[John Fraser (British politician)|John Fraser]]
|birth_name = John George Smyth
|party = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|spouse =
|children =
|alma_mater = [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
|module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
|allegiance= {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|British India}}
|branch= {{army|United Kingdom}} {{army|British India}}
|serviceyears= 1912–1942
|servicenumber= 49726
|rank= [[File:British Army OF-6.svg|23px]] [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]]
|unit= [[15th Ludhiana Sikhs]] [[11th Sikh Regiment]]
|commands= [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Indian Infantry Division]] [[19th Infantry Division (India)|19th Indian Infantry Division]] {{nobr|[[36th Indian Infantry Brigade]]}} [[127th (Manchester) Brigade|127th Infantry Brigade]]
|battles= {{plainlist|
*[[First World War]]
*[[Third Anglo-Afghan War]]
*[[Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)|Waziristan Campaign]]
*[[Second Mohmand Campaign]]
*[[Second World War]]
}}
|awards= {{plainlist|
*[[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|23px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
*[[File:Military cross BAR.svg|23px]] [[Military Cross]]
*[[Mentioned in Despatches]] (6)
*[[File:RUS Order of Saint George 1st class ribbon 2000.svg|23px]] [[Order of St. George]] 4th class (Russia)
}}
|relations=
|laterwork= [[Privy councillor]] [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]
}}
}}
[[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] '''Sir John George Smyth, 1st Baronet''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|VC|MC|PC}} (24 October 1893 – 26 April 1983),<ref>{{Cite ODNB|title=Smyth, Sir John George, first baronet (1893–1983), army officer and politician|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-63738|access-date=2020-08-08|year = 2004|language=en|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/63738}}</ref> often known as '''Jackie Smyth''', was a [[British Indian Army]] officer and a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]. Although a recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], his military career ended in controversy.

==Early life and education==
[[File:John George Smyth VC drawing.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Drawing of Lieutenant Smyth's VC action, from ''[[The War Illustrated]]'', August 1915.]]

Smyth was born in 1893 in [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], the son of William John Smyth (1869–1893), a member of the [[Indian Civil Service]], and Lilian May Clifford. His grandfather was Army officer [[Henry Smyth (British Army officer, born 1816)|Henry Smyth]], who was the second son of [[John Henry Smyth]] (1780–1822), of [[Heath Hall, Heath, West Yorkshire|Heath Hall, Wakefield]], Yorkshire, a Whig MP for [[Cambridge University (UK Parliament constituency)|Cambridge University]] (1812–1822) and Lady Elizabeth Anne FitzRoy, daughter of [[George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton]]. His great-uncle [[John George Smyth (1815–1869)|John George Smyth]] was an MP for the [[City of York (UK Parliament constituency)|City of York]].<ref name="burke">{{cite book |title= [[Burke's Peerage|Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood]]|publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry |editor= Mosley, Charles |editor-link=Charles Mosley (genealogist) |edition=107 |year= 2003 |page= 3671 |ref=Burke |isbn=0-9711966-2-1}}</ref>

Smyth was educated at [[Dragon School]],<ref name="od">{{cite news| title=Skipper's spirit | page=25 | volume=2017 | number=6 | year=2017 | work=The Old Dragon | publisher=[[Dragon School]] }}</ref> [[Repton School|Repton]], and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]].<ref name="Smart292">Smart, p. 292</ref>

==Military career==

After passing out from Sandhurst, Smyth was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[second lieutenant]] on the unattached list for the [[British Indian Army]] on 24 August 1912,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28638 |date=23 August 1912|page=6287 }}</ref> and was commissioned into the [[15th Ludhiana Sikhs]] on 5 November 1913.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28815 |date=24 March 1914|page=2548 }}</ref> He was promoted to lieutenant on 24 November 1914, three months after the outbreak of the [[World War I|First World War]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29086 |date=2 March 1915|page=2110}}</ref>

He was 21 years old, and a [[lieutenant]] in the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, [[3rd (Lahore) Division]], Indian Army during the First World War, when his actions earned him the [[Victoria Cross]] (VC). In June 1915, Smyth was awarded the VC, the United Kingdom's highest award for bravery in combat. The citation for this award, published in [[the London Gazette]] read:<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29210 |date=29 June 1915 |page=6269}}</ref>

{{quote|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 shell|shrapnel]], [[machine-gun]] and rifle fire.}}

As well as Smyth's VC, the [[Indian Distinguished Service Medal]] was posthumously awarded to the men killed during this incident.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/ |title=Brigadier Sir John Smyth, VC, MC |last=Dhulai |first=Sabki |website=Newslaundry |language=en-UK |access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref> Smyth was also awarded the Russian [[Order of St. George]], Fourth Class, in 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29275 |date=24 August 1915 |page=8504|supp=y }}</ref> and was promoted to [[captain]] on 24 August 1916.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30084 |date=22 May 1917|page=4946}}</ref>

Smyth continued his war service in [[Egypt]] and on the North-West Frontier.<ref name="Smart292"/>

==Between the wars==
In September 1920, when [[brigade major]] of the [[43rd Indian Brigade]], Smyth was awarded the [[Military Cross]] (MC) for distinguished service in the field in [[Waziristan]]. The citation for this award, published in the London Gazette, read:<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32064 |date=24 September 1920 |page=9510 |supp=y }}</ref>

{{quote|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, dispositions 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.}}

In 1923, while serving in India, Smyth played two [[first-class cricket]] matches for the [[Europeans cricket team|Europeans team]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/34438.html |title=Brigadier Sir John Smyth |website=Cricinfo |access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>

Returning to England, he attended the [[Staff College, Camberley]] from 1923 to 1924, and his fellow students included numerous men who would later achieve high command, including [[Arthur Percival]], [[Dudley Graham Johnson|Dudley Johnson]] (a fellow VC recipient), [[Arthur Wakely (British Army officer)|Arthur Wakely]], [[Colville Wemyss]], [[Montagu Stopford]], [[John Halsted (British Army officer)|John Halsted]], [[Frederick Pile]], [[Gordon Macready]], [[Roderic Petre]], [[Alastair MacDougall (British Army officer)|Alastair MacDougall]], [[Edmond Schreiber]], [[Michael Gambier-Parry]], [[Richard Henry Dewing|Richard Dewing]], [[Leslie Hill (British Army officer)|Leslie Hill]], [[Kenneth Loch]], [[Douglas Henry Pratt|Douglas Pratt]], [[Balfour Hutchison]], [[Robert Pargiter (British Army officer)|Robert Pargiter]], [[Robert Stone (British Army officer)|Robert Stone]] and [[Henry Verschoyle-Campbell]] along with [[Horace Robertson]] of the [[Australian Army]] and [[Harry Crerar]] and [[Georges Vanier]] of the [[Canadian Army]].<ref name="Smart292"/> Smyth received a brevet promotion to [[major]] on 1 January 1928, receiving the substantive promotion to major on 24 August 1929.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33344 |date=3 January 1928|page=45}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33538 |date=27 September 1929|page=6169}}</ref> By this time, he was a [[Staff (military)|General Staff Officer Grade 3]] (GSO3) with the 3rd Battalion, [[11th Sikh Regiment]], an appointment he vacated on 22 November 1929.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33577 |date=7 February 1930|page=801}}</ref> An early appointment as the Indian Army instructor at the Staff College, Camberley in 1930 further indicated that Smyth's career was on the fast track, borne out by his appointment as a GSO2 at the Staff College on 16 January 1931, with the local rank of [[lieutenant colonel]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33683 |date=23 January 1931|page=535}}</ref> He received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1933, and relinquished his appointment at the Staff College on 16 January 1934.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33955 |date=30 June 1933|page=4383}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34017 |date=23 January 1934|page=541}}</ref>

On 16 July 1936, Smyth was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant colonel, an illustration of how rapidly his career had thus far progressed.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34326 |date=25 September 1936|page=6141}}</ref> He managed to persuade [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort|Lord Gort]], then the [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] (CIGS) and a former instructor at the Staff College in the mid-1920s, as well as being another fellow VC recipient, to give him an undertaking that he would be given a brigade to command in the United Kingdom should hostilities break out.<ref>Mead (2007), p. 430</ref>

==Second World War==
Having managed to engineer leave from India to the United Kingdom in the summer of 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]], he called in his debt but was disappointed to be seconded to a United Kingdom-based staff job, as GSO1 of the [[47th (London) Infantry Division|2nd London Division]], a second-line [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] (TA) formation, then commanded by [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Harry Willans]], which had only recently been formed.<ref name="Mead430">Mead, p. 430</ref>

In February 1940, after further lobbying, Smyth was appointed to command the [[127th (Manchester) Brigade|127th Infantry Brigade]]. His brigade major was [[Charles Phibbs Jones]], later to become a full general. The brigade was one of three which formed part of the [[42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division]], another TA formation, then commanded by Major General [[William Holmes (British Army officer)|William Holmes]], which from April he led in France as part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF).<ref name="Mead430"/> After the [[Dunkirk evacuation|evacuation from Dunkirk]] in late May, he continued to command the brigade in Britain until he was summoned to return to India in March 1941.<ref name="Mead431">Mead, p. 431</ref> He was promoted to colonel on 23 December 1940.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35216 |date=8 July 1941|page=3972|supp=y }}</ref>

After briefly commanding [[36th Indian Infantry Brigade]] in [[Quetta]] and a period of sick leave, Smyth took command of [[19th Infantry Division (India)|19th Indian Infantry Division]] as an [[Acting (rank)|acting]] major general in October,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35463 |date=20 February 1942|page=844}}</ref> but was reassigned to command [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Indian Infantry Division]] in December. Controversy surrounds his handling of 17th Indian Division in February 1942, during its [[Battle of Sittang Bridge|retreat across the Sittang River]] in [[Burma campaign|Burma]]. It was said that he failed to expedite a strong bridgehead on the enemy's side of the river and was forced, when it came under threat from the Japanese, to order the blowing of the bridge while two-thirds of his division were still on the far side with no other means of crossing the river and therefore dooming them. Seventeen Division were the only formation standing between the Japanese and Rangoon, and this loss therefore led directly to the loss of [[Rangoon]] and Lower Burma. The [[Commander-in-Chief, India]], [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Archibald Wavell|Sir Archibald Wavell]] was furious and sacked Smyth on the spot.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reminiscence by E.R.B. Hudson |title=A Close View of the Disaster at the Sittang Bridge. |url=http://www.miwsr.com/2010/downloads/20100706.pdf |website=Michigan War Studies Review |access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref>

There is also a degree of controversy about Smyth's behaviour as regards his health in this period. He had not recovered from surgery for an anal [[fistula]], which must have caused him significant, and possibly distracting, discomfort, yet managed to be recommended as fit to stay in command by a medical board presided over by the senior doctor in his own division.<ref>James Lunt ''The Retreat from Burma 1941-42'' (David & Charles, 1989) pp. 88, 119-121, 154-6, 278</ref>

Smyth received no further posts and returned to the United Kingdom to retire with a substantive rank of colonel and honorary rank of brigadier.<ref name="Mead433">Mead, p. 433</ref> It took 16 years and revision of the official history before his version of the affair versus that of [[Thomas Jacomb Hutton|General Hutton]], his corps commander, was clarified. Smyth's book, ''Milestones'', 1979, gives his version in which he relates that he had made representations to General Hutton 10 days previously recommending a withdrawal to the west bank of the [[Sittang River]], thus permitting a strong defence line to be established. His recommendation was refused.<ref>''History of the Second World War'' (encyclopedic magazine), p. 876</ref>

==Postwar career==
Smyth went into politics and stood unsuccessfully against [[Ernest Bevin]] in [[Wandsworth Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Wandsworth Central]] at the [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945 general election]]. At the [[1950 United Kingdom general election|1950 election]], he defeated the sitting [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP for [[Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwood]]. He was made a [[baronet]] 23 January 1956 with the style Sir John George Smyth, VC, MC, 1st Baronet Smyth of Teignmouth in the County of Devon<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40695 |date=27 January 1956 |page=566 }}</ref> and a [[privy counsellor]] in 1962.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=42683 |date=25 May 1962 |page=4307|supp=y }}</ref> He retired from Parliament at the [[1966 United Kingdom general election|1966 general election]]; as at 2015 he was the last VC recipient to sit in the Commons.

Smyth was also an author, a playwright, a journalist and a broadcaster. His two brothers were distinguished soldiers, one of whom also became a brigadier. He married twice: firstly Margaret Dundas on 22 July 1920, later dissolved, with whom he had three sons and a daughter; and then Frances Chambers on 12 April 1940. One of his sons, Captain John Lawrence Smyth of the 1st Battalion, [[Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)]], was killed on 7 May 1944, during the first attack on Jail Hill at the [[Battle of Kohima]].

Smyth was cremated at [[Golders Green Crematorium]]. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Imperial War Museum]].

One of Brigadier Smyth's uniforms is on display at the armory of the [[Artillery Company of Newport]] in [[Newport, Rhode Island]], USA.

Smyth was a cat lover and wrote three books on cats, ''Beloved Cats'' (Frederick Muller, 1963), ''Blue Magnolia'' (Frederick Muller, 1964) and ''Ming: The Story of a Cat Family'' (Frederick Muller, 1966).

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*''[[Monuments to Courage]]'' (David Harvey, 1999)
*{{cite book| first=Richard| last=Mead| title=Churchill's Lions: A Biographical Guide to the Key British Generals of World War II| location=Stroud| publisher=Spellmount| year=2007|isbn=978-1-86227-431-0}}
*{{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart| title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War| isbn=1844150496| year=2005| location=Barnesley| publisher=Pen & Sword}}
*''[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]]'' (This England, 1997)
*''[[Scotland's Forgotten Valour]]'' (Graham Ross, 1995)
*''[[VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915]]'' (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)

==Bibliography==
*''Leadership in War, 1939–45; Generals in Victory and Defeat''
*''Leadership in battle 1914–1918 : commanders in action''
*''Story of the George Cross''
*''The Game's the Same''
*''Victoria Cross 1856–1964''
*''The Only Enemy''
*''Paradise Island''
*''Trouble in Paradise''
*''Ann Goes Hunting'' (Max Parrish, 1960)
*''Beloved Cats'' (Frederick Muller, 1963)
*''Blue Magnolia'' (Frederick Muller, 1964)
*''The Rebellious Rani'' (Frederick Muller, 1966)
*''Ming: The Story of a Cat Family'' (Frederick Muller, 1966)

==External links==
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/mmsmyt02.htm Outline of his career]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090623050143/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/golders.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Golders Green)''
*[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/34438.html Cricinfo: Brigadier Sir John Smyth]
*{{Lives of WWI | id= 4181874 | name= John George Smyth }}
*[https://generals.dk/general/Smyth/John_George/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]

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{{s-ttl|title=[[19th Infantry Division (India)|GOC 19th Indian Infantry Division]]|years=October−December 1941}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Geoffry Scoones]]}}
|-
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{{s-ttl|title=[[17th Infantry Division (India)|GOC 17th Indian Infantry Division]]|years=1941−1942}}
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|-
{{s-par|uk}}
{{succession box
| title = Member of Parliament for [[Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwood]]
| years = [[1950 United Kingdom general election|1950]]–[[1966 United Kingdom general election|1966]]
| before = [[Ronald Arthur Chamberlain]]
| after = [[John Fraser (UK politician)|John Fraser]]
}}
{{s-reg|uk-bt}}
{{s-new | creation }}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Smyth Baronets|Baronet]] '''(of Teignmouth)'''
| years = 1956–1983
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smyth, John George}}
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