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Colonel Gerald Smyth’s Speech to RIC Condoning ‘Shoot on Sight’ Tralee 1920

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#OnThisDay 1920 Colonel Gerald Smyth, a one armed WW1 veteran from Co. Down made a speech to the RIC in Listowel in which he said-

“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.”
and
“Hunger strikers will be allowed to die in jail, the more the merrier”

Fourteen RIC constables led by Jeremiah Mee resigned, most joined the IRA. Smyth ordered the 14 to be arrested as they left the room but no constable would do so.

Smyth was shot dead by the IRA four weeks later. His assassin, Dan ‘Sandow’ O’Donovan allegedly said to him, “Colonel, were not your orders to shoot on sight? Well you are in sight now, so prepare. (to die)

resized_Lt._Colonel_Gerald_Smyth

‘Captain’ Charles Boycott Dies in Manchester 1897

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#OnThisDay 1897 “Captain” Charles Boycott died at home near Manchester. Boycott was a land agent for Lord Erne in Mayo during the Land War in the summer of 1880, whose name was used to create a term for ostracising someone. Locals wouldn’t talk to, sell to or work for Boycott. After trying to collect rents from poor tenants after a bad harvest, the tenants gathered and began the ostracising process. People stopped working his land, his servants left his house and he could not be served by the post master/mistress, blacksmith or any business in town.
Fifty Orangemen from County Cavan and County Monaghan travelled to Lord Erne’s estate to harvest the crops, while a regiment of the 19th Royal Hussars and more than 1,000 men of the Royal Irish Constabulary were deployed to protect the harvesters. The episode was estimated to have cost the British government and others at least £10,000 to harvest about £500 worth of crops.
In November 1880, Boycott, his family were escorted from Lough Mask House by members of the 19th Hussars where he left by train and left Ireland for good.

Captain Boycott

Battle of Ovidstown, Kildare 1798

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#OnThisDay 1798 The United Irishmen led by William Aylmer lost 200 at the Battle of Ovidstown just outside of Kilcock, Kildare.
Lieutenant Colonel Irwin, commander of the Trim Garrison, had marched from that town the previous night to engage the rebels at the head of around 400 men. Realising that a significant military force was descending upon them, Aylmer and John Doorly quickly arranged their army of around 4,000 men at the foot of Wiley’s Hill. Some of the rebels lined the hedges on both sides of the road and fired on Irwin’s advance guard. These were soon cleared by the infantry, but due to the unevenness of the ground and the enclosed areas on it, the cavalry and the 2 field pieces could not detach for some time. A pike attack failed, the rebels were cleared out of their positions & then fired upon by two artillery pieces with grapeshot.
The battle turned into a rout as the cavalry charged down the fleeing rebels, many of whom escaped into the bogs nearby.

Ovidstown