Jadotville Day
Surviving Irish UN veterans of the 1961 siege were finally honoured in Athlone, on 21 October 2017, with the unveiling of a plaque marking the first annual commemoration of their heroic defence
Heroes of Ireland’s forgotten battle have finally been recognised for their service
Between 13-17 September 1961, 2,000-4,000 Katangese armed gendarmeries and experienced European mercenaries attacked an isolated United Nations military unit of 156 Irish UN troops at Jadotville in the destabilised Republic of the Congo. Led by Commandant Pat Quinlan, the men of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion had been sent to protect the citizens of the prosperous mining town but soon became trapped into fighting an intense defence.
The siege raged for days but the inexperienced Irish troops inflicted over 1,000 casualties on their attackers while suffering no fatalities themselves and only five wounded men. However, A Company received inadequate support from the UN high command and were eventually forced into a tense captivity after they ran out of ammunition.
The UN and Irish Army authorities deliberately hushed up this remarkable defence and the Jadotville veterans were given no official recognition for their bravery for decades. However, thanks to the determined campaigning of veteran John Gorman the men of A Company are now recognised as valiant heroes and in recent years they have been presented with various honours including a presidential unit citation and a commemorative monument as well as various books, documentaries and a feature film.
Nevertheless, 2017 will be the ‘Jadotville Tigers’ biggest year yet as the veterans of the Irish Defence Forces have now adopted the day of their release from captivity on 25 October 1961 as ‘Jadotville Day.’ This day will now be commemorated annually and on Saturday 21 October 2017 the first ‘Jadotville Day’ ceremony took place in Civic Square, Athlone, County Westmeath.
The event centred on the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to honour A Company’s heroism. The mayor of Athlone, Aengus O’rourke unveiled the plaque before Jadotville veteran Jimmy Feery DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) laid a wreath. With other surviving Jadotville veterans in attendance, the ceremony also included a parade by Irish Defence Forces veterans, speeches, salutes, a minute’s silence and the sounding of the ‘Last Post’ before concluding with three cheers for A Company.
The next Jadotville Day will be held in
Dublin in 2018 but before then the veterans will finally be presented with a special medal from the Irish government called ‘An Bonn Jadotville’ (The Jadotville Medal). This award will be presented by the Irish Minister of Defence at Custume Barracks, Athlone on 2 December 2017 to the 156 members of A Company, 35th Battalion, which will include living veterans and the families of deceased personnel. The medal is long overdue but will be a fitting tribute to A Company’s courageous actions in 1961.