Quinlan’s strategy for saving lives

Sir — Alexander Kearney’s ‘If you want the truth, forget the film and read Conor’s great book’ (Sunday Independent, October 2) encourages readers to read the book To Katanga and Back by Conor Cruise O’Brien. Leaving aside the merits of the book, let’s not forget that Mr O’Brien had the opportunity to write his views about Katanga in 1962. No such opportunity was invested in Commandant Quinlan and his brave men of A company where the word Jadotville was swept under the carpet by the top brass in the Irish Defence Forces.

‘Jadotville Jack’ was the name tagged on these brave men on their return to Ireland. It was a derisory and unjustified taint that was bestowed on the men of A company. The siege of Jadotville is Ireland’s version of Rorke’s Drift, where 150 men defended their garrison against 3,000 Zulu warriors. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded on that day, which was the most in any single battle involving British Troops. It is fitting that Comdt. Quinlan, whose strategic tactic of digging 1.5 metre trenches as part of his perimeter defence, is now being recognised as a great example of leadership and soldiering by defence forces worldwide.

More importantly, this strategy helped prevent the loss of lives under his command. It has being said that the first casualty of war is truth.

The marriage of questionable leadership of the army top brass, embedded with political influence combined with the ideology of the UN administrators in trying to protect its reputation, failed the men of A company on their return to Ireland.

The recent film The Siege of Jadotville was the catalyst that attracted a new and welcome audience to the role of Irish troops under the blue flag in the Congo. For the men of A company, their journey to Katanga and back was not the panacea it should have been. Comdt. Quinlan and his men were casualties of a culture at the time that would not and did not accept the truth. However, there is some comfort in knowing that the forgotten battle of Jadotville, and the men who fought it, is now being rightfully recognised as a unique part of Irish Army and UN history. Dermot O’Neill, Galway