Description This photograph is of three white British officers from the 1st West India Regiment, which played an important role in putting down the Morant Bay Rebellion (11 October 1865), plus a black sergeant from the same unit. Who was Major General Luke Smythe O'Connor (left)? Major-General Luke Smythe O'Connor was the commander of the 1st West India Regiment and also had overall command of all other British military forces in Jamaica during the Morant Bay Rebellion. In theory, O’Connor took his orders directly from Governor Edward John Eyre, but he and the individual officers under his command had a lot a leeway to do things their own way when they were out in the field.