(Note: Other journalists featured on this blog so far include Paddy Clare and Alan Bestic)
Irish journalist Jack Smyth, who was held captive in a Nazi concentration camp for eight months, and his wife Eileen were tragically killed when their car plunged into the River Liffey on a cold December night in 1956.
Born in Galway, Jack began his career at The Connacht Tribune before leaving for London in the early 1940s to join Reuters news agency. Swapping a quiet civilian life and desk job for the dangerous life of a war correspondent, he underwent secret training as a paratrooper before being dropped with British airborne forces in the Arnhem landings of September 1944. In the thick of battle Jack, the only reporter at the frontline, wrote:
On this fifth day our force is still being heavily mortared, sniped, machine-gunned and shelled … When the Second Army arrives and relieves this crowd, then may be told one of the epics of the war. In the meantime, they go on fighting their hearts out.
Most of the airborne force, that Jack dropped with, were wiped out. Injured in the bloody battle, he was captured by the Nazis. For 17 days he was tortured under Gestapo interrogation and overall spent eight months as a Prisoner of War in a concentration camp before finally being released by American troops. On his return he told a friend and fellow journalist:
Jaysus, they beat the s*** out of me!. There was I, in British Army officer’s uniform, telling ’em I was a neutral and demanding to see the nearest Irish ambassador. Well, they were having none of that.
He wrote and published his experiences in a book, “Five Days in Hell”, in 1956. Lucky to get out alive, five of Jack’s fellow war correspondents and friends at Reuters had been killed in the War.
Cover of Jack Smyth’s 1956 book “Five Days In Hell”. Credit: market-garden.info
After Germany, Smyth traveled East and was aboard the last British cruiser to bombard Japan. Later, he was one of the first journalists to enter Tokyo and visit the ruined city of Hiroshima.
Leaving Reuters to take up the post of Managing Editor at The Waterford Star, he stayed there for sometime before joining the staff of the Irish News Agency in Dublin. Taken on as Assistant Editor of the newly fledged Evening Press, it was this capacity that he was involved in the sensational finding of the kidnapped Ashmore baby. He was appointed Managing Editor of the Irish Press in 1955, the year before his untimely death.
On the night of the 2nd of December 1956, Jack and Eileen were driving home to their house in Rathfarnham. He had to drop into the offices of the Press, on Burgh Quay, to help with the next day’s front page showcasing Ronnie Delaney’s sensational win at the Melbourne Olympics.
Driving from the office, the car accidentally entered the river at the junction of Lime Street and Sir John Rogerson’s quay. It was noted in The Irish Times on December 5 1956 that:
At this point there is a dockside warehouse, the gable end of which might be mistaken for a continuation of Lime Street and cause a driver unfamiliar with the area to overshoot the quay
The body of his 35-year-old wife Eileen Smyth, originally from Limerick, was found in the car when it was taken from the river on December 4th.
Jack’s body was unfortunately never recovered. He was 38. The couple left two young children behind.
A picture of Eileen and Jack after the announcement of their engagement. The Irish Press, July 13 1946
In a bizarre, tragic coincidence that occurred two-year later a relative, John Shannon, who was looking after the two orphaned Smyth children was also was killed after he accidentally drove his car into the Liffey. It was noted in the 1958 newspaper report that eight similar accidents had occurred around Sir John Rogerson’s quay over the last twenty years. Today, there is better lighting and more road bollards to prevent such disasters.
That accident in December 1956 was a very sad ending to the lives of a brave war correspondent and his devoted wife.
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Such a sad story. Thanks for posting
That is just bloody heartbreaking. Poor JS, that brave, talented man, and his beautiful wife, and then their relative two years later as well, meaning the children were effectively orphaned twice. All because of poor signage and road design. Out of interest, have any of your Dublin readers crossing over the canal onto the city side of Leeson Street noticed the stell barred traffic island? Dark, inky grey & practically invisible. There is little doubt the first fatality at this spot is only a matter of time now. I shall write to DCC, for what it is worth. Anyway, love your blog, one of the very best around. I’m looking forward to reading more and more stories in future. Great respects and regards- Arran.
It was strange to come across this story on my Grandparents “Jack and Eileen Smyth”, such a tragic life !
Just googled” 5 days in hell “,to show his great grandchildren the book and to my surprise i saw your web page.Their children ,my Mother and Uncle went on to have a happy childhood thank god .It would be great to find out more information on Jack Smyths life, as my mother( their daughter), died young from cancer. Thanks Nicola
Thanks for the comment Nicola. Have emailed you.
Hi Sam,
Just read the testimonial to my parents.
Very good article- well done!
One small correction to make – The Shannon’s you referred to were not related to us. They were in fact neighbours of Jack Smyth’s brother, Charlie who is alive and well and living in Glenageary.
John and Mary Shannon could not have children of their own and so they adopted my sister, Nicola and I after the accident.
They were a lovely couple, very good to both Nicola and myself.
Unfortunately, John Shannon suffered a similar fate just 2 years later when he too drove into the Liffey just 50 yards from our Parents accident.
Our pleasure Peter.
Hi Nicola,
Have just now come across this very moving article. I knew your Mum Nicola when in College in Galway. Very happy memories of many nights out together.
A beautiful and loving girl. So sad to hear she has passed on at a young age.
Paul
I remember hearing of this awful tragedy. As I lived a street away from Jack Smyths Mother. I knew the children, but now their Christian names escape me . I wonder what ever became of them.
Oh Nicola, I am so sorry to read that your Mom died, I knew her in Galway.
For some reason she came into my mind earlier. My mom and her bros. knew your Dad well. He was the same age as my Mom. How many children do you have? What of your uncle?. I am the same age as your Mom.
Jack sure got a lot into his short life,you have a lot to be proud of.
Kind Regards
Agnes
A wonderful testimonial to my Grandparents. I am the last person in our family to carry the ‘Smyth’ family name and will do so with a renewed sense of pride. Thank you for sharing with us the inspirational yet short life they lived.
What a sad story.to come through so much only to die so near to home…I would like to read his book “Five days in Hell”
We have this book in our home and have been told it is written by a relative. I am curious to know if that is true. My husband’s grandfather, Charles Joseph Smyth, was born in Galway, got his law degree from Trinity, and practiced in Canada.
I am very moved to read this article. I was a very small child when this tragic event happened, my parents Noel & Maureen ( nee McDermott) Kennedy were friends of Jackie and Charlie and I remember the tears and disbelief that struck them both and the household. Growing up their tragic accident was often recalled as was Jackie’s good humour. The tragic door did not close on their children either, I have often thought about them and was kept updated through my own parents while they were alive. Elizabeth
Been trying to get Jack’s book ‘FIVE DAYS IN HELL’ so hard to find. Any copy’s for sale please e-mail me djrmarky@aol.com. Many thanks.
Such an interesting story and I remember my parents relating it to me. Mrs Shannon worked for us in our shop in Galway and was a lovely lady.
Thank you Sam for bringing this article to me in such a serendipitous way.
My mother was a friend of Peter Smyth’s grandmother in Galway.
As I found your article I also found a document at home while cleaning out old files which I would love to share with Peter. Is it possible for you to give me his email address.
Margaret.
I am very lucky to have come across your article. I am researching my family and my late father Kevin Loftus was, I believe, Jack’s cousin. I would like to get in touch with a member of the family to exchange info.
Brendan Loftus
Hi Brendan,
I am not sure if you already have had a reply. My parents (Noel & Maureen Kennedy) were friends of Jack and Charlie Smyth. Charlie has now passed away. Try Linked in to trace the family. I know Charlie had two daughters and I may be able to get you info on there whereabouts but not through public media.
Kind Regards
Elizabeth (Nunan)
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing I did not know.
i can be contacted via email bloftus66@gmail.com.
Kind regards
Brendan
Just a belated ‘heads up’ for anyone interested, Jack’s book has been reprinted. At £5 it’s cheaper than the £85 I paid last year: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1540625591/sr=8-1-fkmr0/qid=1484949005/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1484949005&sr=8-1-fkmr0
Alhough I do not doubt Jacks bravery. The book Jack wrote is not an accurate reprisentation of what he had did at Arnhem. He was the only civilian that did a parachute jump, during this operation. He landed on 18th of september with the 4th parachute Brigade at Ginkel Heath. A British officer Captain H.B. (Jasper) Booty took a photograph of Jack and Reverend Captain Daniel McGowan talking to each other.
There were also other civilian correspondents at Arnhem (Canadian) Stanley Maxted, (Polish) Marek Swieciki, (Australian)Alan Wood,and Guy Byam (killed in 1945) It is a tragedy how Jack and Eileen lives ended.
Brett Smyth
I am related to Jack Smyth. My grandfather, Charles Joseph (CJ) Smyth, was Jack’s uncle and, too, to his late brother Charlie. Aileen Smyth, another person who has replied to this conversation, is my sister-in-law, who lives in Calgary, Alberta with my brother, Clint.
I remember the book Jack wrote quite vividly as it was often found on the side table next to my grandfather’s favourite chair. I had a very intimate conversation with him about Jack’s story, his life with Eileen, and their untimely death. Which then led to a conversation about my grandfather’s service in the First World War as Vickers machine-gunner. The most brilliant question I asked him, coming from the mouth and brain of an naive and entitled Canadian teenager was “How many men did you kill?”
His answer to this day still resonates with me: “Far too many, far too many.”
He was a man of great faith, a gentle man who had surrendered some of his soul to the realities, and indignities, of war.
The book went awol in the passing of the years and my grandparents but a connection with another relative, Peter Loftus in England who had great interest in the family tree, tied up some loose ends.
I am a singer/songwriter and Jack’s story of his life has always intrigued me. The song I have written is titled, simply, “River Liffey.”
At some point I will complete its recording in my home studio and share it with my family around the globe.