Sir, - It was a great pleasure to read Kevin Myer's An Irishman's Diary (June 11th) and his account of the brave deeds of one of our soldiers killed in Newry in 1990. By coincidence, a few of his comrades and I returned from Newry recently, having held a small memorial service to celebrate his life and his courage.
May I correct Mr Myers on a major point of fact? Ranger Cyril Smith was not mentioned posthumously in Dispatches. He was actually awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) for his outstanding bravery in saving Mr McEvoy's life.
I am amused by Mr Myer's belief that we are a Regiment in need of better connections; when the Colonel of the Regiment is also the Chief of the General Staff it would be difficult to develop better ones. I would very much like Mr Myers to dine with us in Yorkshire, where he will see that, when serving with Irish soldiers like the later Ranger Smith QGM, no better connections are necessary. - Faugh a Ballagh.
J C W Brooks, Lt Col Commanding,
1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, BFPO812.