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The following text has been archived here from our sister site, the Border Regiment Forum, which is set to close in January 2018. A wiki-based copy of that original post has been preserved here for reference purposes. Note: only selected posts from the forum have been archived (find out why). |
 Posted by plbramham » Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:17 am
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 General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
| Handwritten notes by Lt. M. Smyth, Border Regt. dated 2/1/19 from a course he attended at The Army Signalling School in Dunstable Most of it consists of technical descriptions & circuit diagrams of electrical & wireless apparatus, but I’m attaching some interesting pages such as care and use of carrier pigeons, how to lay cables in trenches or over roads, and communications with aircraft.
I have not been able to find out much about Smyth (Later addition: see update posting further down where he became curator of regimental museum) but he appears in the 1918 Army list under “Service Bns” with a commission date of 24th April 1917. He was a Lieutenant with the Lonsdale Battalion in WW1, and then served with the Trans Jordan Frontier Force, later with the 2nd Border Regiment as a Captain in Rawalpindi India (1931). He received GSM with Palestine clasp (1939) then went on to serve in WW2 as a Lt-Col. From 11th Bn. War diary 10th July 1917 at Nieuport-Lombartzyde sector along the coast: “The outlook was appearing bleaker by the minute. By 5.30pm their numbers had been reduced to a shockingly low figure. Out of two platoons sent forward under Second-Lieutenant Smyth only 4 men remained. Lieutenant Rowsell only had 30 men left at best. These men fought to the best of their abilities. The German attack was succeeding, or at the very least appeared that way until much later in the day. While general and local counter-attacks were prepared every available rifle was ordered to help defend the lines. This was crucial to the success of holding the line at all costs. The Lonsdale’s retaliation continued through the night and in the early hours of the 11th July 1917, the enemy’s attacking force was repelled. At 4am their bitter encounter came to an end when they were relieved and fell back to support dug-outs. Total casualties incurred were estimated at 8 officers and 350 other ranks; men who died in a truly horrifying situation could not have done more to serve their country and fight for the freedom of others.” The Transjordan Frontier Force (TJFF) was established at Sarafand, Palestine on 1 April 1926 as a para-military border guard to defend Trans-Jordan's northern and southern borders. Unlike The Arab Legion, The TJFF was equipped in a “modern” conventional manner, with up to date weapons, machine guns, artillery, and radios. It grew to three cavalry squadrons, each of 120 men each, and an infantry unit. Later other units, such as a camel squadron and mechanised units, were added. The squadrons and companies were all commanded by British majors, with another British officer as 2 i/c. The cavalry squadrons consisted of three rifle troops of 36 men and one machine gun troop with 36 rifles and 4 MGs.. The normal tactical and reconnaissance unit was the half-squadron or half-company which were commanded by local captains. Each half-squadron / company consisted of two troops, led by local lieutenants & captains. At the end of 1927 there were 39 officers, including 17 British, 12 British warrant officers, three staff sergeants and 676 other ranks. In 1930 there were 17 British officers, two in each of the four squadrons and companies, the remainder being at Force HQ. In 1935 there were 24 British officers - the OC, seven majors and sixteen captains. After six months initial training at Sarafand & then from October 1926 at Shunet Nimrin in the Jordan Valley, TJFF HQ moved to Zerqa east of the Jordan River in Trans-Jordan. The cavalry squadrons being based at Zerqa and the camel company at Ma'an. In 1929, the TJFF assisted in dealing with Arab unrest in Palestine. The camel company moved to Jericho and one cavalry squadron to Jisr el Majamie. A second cavalry squadron was raised then sent as reinforcement in early 1930. The mechanised company was formed in 1930, based at Ma'an (the camel companies being disbanded later that year) and motorisation extended the range of the TJFF further out into the desert.
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| Posted by plbramham » Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:22 am
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General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
Part two: Duplicated notes regarding communications with aircraft for Lt M. Smyth Border Regt (11th Bn.) dated 2/1/19 from a course he attended at The Army Signalling School in Dunstable (I guess sort of early duplicated course “handouts”) . Paul
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| Posted by kerchi » Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:29 pm
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 Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Wow! These are amazing Paul, however did you get your hands on this?
A real eye-opener, especially something of a personal nature (i.e. hand written) with nicely drawn illustrations and in-depth descriptions. I couldn't read all of it because of the actual handwriting but certainly got the gist of it. How many pages does it run into? I could see 97 on one of them (if they are actually page numbers). |
| Posted by plbramham » Sat May 11, 2013 10:38 am
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General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
| Regarding: “Lt Col. M Smyth of the Border Regiment served with the Lonsdale Battalion in WW1 as Lt then went on to serve with the Trans Jordan Frontier Force then with the 2nd Batt Border Regiment as Capt in Rawalpindi India (1931).He later went on to serve in WW2 as Lt Col.”
I have found him in the first issue of “The Border Magazine” September 1947 where he is mentioned as being one of a subcommittee appointed “as soon as practicable after the close of hostilities to examine the whole subject with a view to producing a magazine“. He is listed as Lt Col M. Smyth, the administrative officer at the depot. Also in September 1947 issue a note that he had taken over duties as curator of the Regimental Museum In March 1948 issue – “Major M. Smyth retires on retirement pay & is granted hon rank of Lt Col Colonel Date granted 28/9/1947.” In the 1950s he is mentioned as CO of 1st Cadet Battalion in Carlisle. There is a photo of him as Lt Col (retd.) taking the passing out parade on 14th December 1957 The attached photo shows him in August 1951 with Princess Margaret inspecting the Museum’s stand at Carlisle Industrial Exhibition.
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