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Siege of Jadotville

Coordinates: 10°59′S 26°44′E / 10.983°S 26.733°E / -10.983; 26.733 (Battle of Jadotville)
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For the film, see The Siege of Jadotville (film).

Siege of Jadotville
Part of Operation Morthor in the Congo Crisis
Siege of Jadotville is located in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jadotville
Jadotville
Siege of Jadotville (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Date13–17 September 1961
Location
Jadotville, Katanga
10°59′S 26°44′E / 10.983°S 26.733°E / -10.983; 26.733 (Battle of Jadotville)
Result See aftermath
Belligerents

 Katanga

United Nations ONUC

Commanders and leaders
Strength
500[4] -
  • ~3,000 Katanga mercenaries and irregulars led by Belgian, French and Rhodesian mercenaries[5][6]
  • 1 close air support jet aircraft
  • Irish:
  • 156 soldiers[7]
  • Swedish:
  • 1 soldier, 1 pilot
  • Norwegian:
  • 1 pilot
  •  
  • Force KANE:
  • 500 Irish, Indian and Swedish soldiers[8]
Casualties and losses
3[9]–300 killed[10][11]
8[9]–1,000 wounded[12]
  • 3–5 Indians killed[13][14]
  • 5 Irish wounded
  • 156 Irish captured
  • 1 transport vehicle
  • 1 helicopter damaged

As part of the larger Congo Crisis (1960–1964), the siege of Jadotville [ʒa.do.vil] began on 13 September 1961, lasting for five days.[15] While serving under the United Nations Operation in the Congo (Opération des Nations Unies au Congo, ONUC), a small contingent of the Irish Army's 35th Battalion, designated "A" Company, were besieged at the UN base near the mining town of Jadotville (modern-day Likasi) by Katangese forces loyal to the secessionist State of Katanga.

The siege took place during the seven-day escalation of hostilities between ONUC and Katangese forces during Operation Morthor. Although the contingent of 156 Irish soldiers repelled several attacks by a larger force, they eventually surrendered to the Katangese forces after running out of ammunition and water.

The Irish company inflicted approximately 1,300 casualties (including, according to some estimates, up to 300 killed) on the Katangese force, with no deaths amongst the Irish "A" Company. A relief column of approximately 500 Indian, Irish, and Swedish UN troops, sent to break the siege, was unsuccessful and suffered several casualties (including at least five killed).

The captured Irish company was held as prisoners of war for approximately one month, before being released on 15 October as part of a prisoner exchange.[16]

Background

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Congo Crisis

[edit]
Further information: Congo Crisis

From 1908 to 1960, the Congo was a Belgian colony, having previously been the personal possession of Leopold II of Belgium between 1885 and 1908.[17]

The Congo's economy was dominated by Belgian and British business firms, the most powerful of which were the Belgian-owned Société Générale de Belgique and the British-owned Union Minière du Haut Katanga.[18]

Following the Congolese declaration of independence in June 1960, in pursuit of retaining economic benefits, the Belgian government supported the secession of the Katanga Province under Moise Tshombe, which began the Congo Crisis.[19]

Due to this intervention in the Congo's sovereignty, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and President Joseph Kasavubu petitioned the United Nations (UN) for assistance in "protect[ing] the national territory of the Congo". The United Nations Operation in the Congo commenced shortly afterwards.[20]

The UN's attempts to remove the Belgian presence from the Katanga Province proved difficult due to Belgian soldiers transitioning into mercenaries while they continued to head the Katangese gendarmerie. This made it more challenging to link them to the Belgian state, and to apply political pressure on Belgium to force their removal from the theatre.[21]

The already politically complex position of Belgium was further complicated by Prime Minister Tshombe's appointment to America of a Belgian civil servant, Michel Struelens, to promote the international reputation of Katanga and its independence through propaganda.[19]

Following the torture and killing of Lumumba on 17 January 1961 under orders from Tshombe and with indirect assistance of the Belgian state, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 161A a month later on 21 February 1961.[22]

In the pursuit of reintegrating the seceded provinces into the Congo, this resolution gave permission for the use of force, if required.[23] However, it was not utilised for another seven months,[21] until Conor Cruise O'Brien was sent to Elisabethville as the Special Representative for UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld.[24]

Following Resolution 161A, four battalions were sent into Katanga who, at the demand of the Congolese government, were from non-colonial powers.[25] However, these troops were under-equipped and outnumbered by the approximately 5,000 members of the Katanga gendarmerie. For instance, only the Swedish battalion had armoured transportation that could not be pierced by high-velocity ammunition and modern weaponry, whereas the force they were facing had heavy weaponry (mortars and artillery) and three Fouga jets at their disposal.[26]

Operation Rumpunch

[edit]

Prior to being deployed to Katanga in June 1961 as part of the ONUC mission, Conor Cruise O’Brien was an Irish diplomat within the UN foreign office in the Republic of Ireland.[27] Upon arrival in Elisabethville, he planned and executed Operation Rumpunch in an attempt to remove the mercenaries within the area.[28]

By August 1961, tensions between the UN and Katangan leadership had deteriorated due to the arrival of both O’Brien and an Indian battalion (who both believed, following the February Security Council Resolution, that their goal was to crush the resistance in Katanga) and the breakdown of negotiations between the Katangan and Congolese governments in May of that year.[29]

Operation Rumpunch was ordered by O’Brien and the UN Civilian Operations Chief, Mahmoud Khairi on 28 August 1961, with the aim to take non-Katangan members of the state into their custody.[30] Prior to its start, on 24 August, both President Kasavubu and newly appointed Prime Minister Cyrille Adoula issued orders for the removal of "all non-Congolese officers and mercenaries", and for UN assistance in this action.[31] Operation Rumpunch began at 4:30 and was deemed largely successful by both Cruise and Secretary-General Hammarskjöld,[30] but it did not succeed in removing all mercenaries, and left the more radical mercenaries,[32] some of whom had been members of the German and Italian militaries of World War Two, behind, safely within Katanga.[33]

As a result of Operation Rumpunch, Katangan Minister Godefroid Munongo ramped up actions against those who were anti-secession, which led to 45,000 people seeking assistance from the UN compound in Elisabethville.[32] Additionally, on 29 August 1961, following Operation Rumpunch, Company B of the 35th Irish Battalion and Group Mide of the Swedish Battalion were sent to Jadotville to explain to the families of those arrested what had occurred, and to ensure peace in the area. However, four days later Group Mide (and shortly after Company B) returned to Elizabethville due to the aggression of the white population at Jadotville.[30]

Operation Morthor

[edit]

Despite the antagonism at Jadotville, these troops were substituted by Company A of the 35th Irish Battalion on 3 September 1961, under the command of Commandant Patrick Quinlan. According to both Conor O’Brien and General McKeown this decision was made due to the petition of Belgian Foreign Minister Paul Spaak to protect the white population at Jadotville.[34]

The launching of Operation Morthor is considered controversial due to the contention that it was outside the remit given to ONUC,[35] even by the February Security Council Resolution. Additionally, there is speculation over whether UN Secretary-General Hammarskjöld knew beforehand that Special Representative O’Brien was going to launch the operation. The general consensus is that Hammarskjöld did know of the proposal but did not give a direct go-ahead for it, and that O’Brien launched it on his own initiative.[36]

On Wednesday 13 September 1961, United Nations forces in Katanga launched the planned military offensive, code-named Operation Morthor, against mercenary military units serving the State of Katanga. This mission had a similar purpose to Operation Rumpunch, with UN troops attempting to take control of the means of communication (radio station and post office), alongside arresting the remaining mercenaries.[37] However, unlike the previous mission, Operation Morthor only managed to arrest one Katangan minister, and led to fighting which required a negotiated ceasefire between UN Representative O’Brien and Prime Minister Tshombe to halt.[15] During the ceasefire, UN troops failed to secure Tshombe, who managed to flee into Rhodesia. Following this, and due to the levels of bloodshed, the Secretary-General ordered an end to Operation Morthor.[32]

Operation Morthor led to criticism in the international press against the United Nations, especially in Europe. British Prime Minister Harold Wilson compared the UN peacekeepers’ actions to those of the Soviet Union, by calling them "The Red Army in blue berets".[38][39]

Before the siege

[edit]

Soon after the start of Operation Morthor, the Katangese led a counterattack on an isolated unit of Irish UN soldiers based in the mining town of Jadotville, approximately 100 kilometers from the main UN base in Elisabethville.[40] The Irish unit, consisting of 155 men, designated "A" Company, commanded by Commandant Pat Quinlan, were ordered to the mining town some weeks earlier to assist in the protection of its citizens; this was a result of the Belgian foreign minister calling the UN secretary-general to report that Belgian settlers and the local population feared for their safety.[41]

On 5 September the Katangan forces began constructing roadblocks on the roads available to Company A, which prompted Commandant Quinlan to order his men to build further trench fortifications.[42] On 9 September, Quinlan’s request that the company be removed from Jadotville or provided with more personnel due to the hostile situation was transmitted to the UN Headquarters at Elizabethville by Captain Liam Donnelly,[42] with a second request two days later. However, neither of Quinlan’s requests were granted prior to the launching of Operation Morthor on the 13 September 1961.[42]

Radio operator of "A" Company in the months prior to the siege

Due to anti-UN and pro-Katangese sentiments in the region, the troops were not universally welcomed. Two companies of ONUC peacekeepers — one Swedish and one Irish — had been withdrawn from Jadotville in the days prior to "A" Company's arrival.[10] While it is not clear why the Katangese wanted to isolate the Irish UN troops, some commentators have suggested that the goal may have been to take the Irish as prisoners for leverage in negotiations with the UN.[10]

Battle

[edit]

On the morning of Wednesday 13 September 1961, the soldiers stationed at Jadotville were informed of Operation Morthor by UN Headquarters at Elisabethville. At 07:40, 20 Katangese troops[15] attacked while many of the UN Irish troops of A Company were attending an open-air mass.[43] Expecting to take the men off-guard, the first attackers moved in rapidly. However, they were spotted by an Irish sentry, and a warning shot by Private Billy Ready alerted the company to the threat (Ready was wounded in a later exchange of fire).[44][45]

The paramilitary Katangese Gendarmerie, which was a combined force of mercenaries, Belgian settlers and local tribesmen, attacked the Irish company. The attackers had a strength of 3,000–5,000 men – consisting of mostly Katangese and settlers, but with many Belgian, French and Rhodesian mercenaries armed with a mix of weapons. Additionally, these forces had limited air support from a Fouga Magister trainer-light ground attack jet fitted with a pair of underwing bombs and twin 7.5 mm machine guns, which repeatedly attacked the UN position. The Irish soldiers were armed with personal weapons, several water-cooled Vickers machine guns, 60mm mortars and two Irish-built Ford Mark VI armoured cars under the command of Lieutenant Kevin Knightly (the Fords were armed with one Vickers machine gun each, mounted in their cupolas – reportedly firing 15,000 rounds of ammunition over the next four days).[12][46][47][48]

The Katangese attacked in waves of 600 or so, preceded by bombardment from 81 mm mortars and a French 75mm field gun. The Irish Support Platoon of A Company knocked out most of the Katangese mortar and artillery positions, including the 75mm gun, with counter-battery fire from 60mm mortars.[49] The fire from the UN Irish positions proved accurate and effective. Mercenary officers were reportedly observed shooting native gendarmes to stem the rout caused in Katangese lines.[50]

Irish ONUC troops in the Congo in 1960 (a year prior to the siege)

The 500 Irish and Swedish UN troops based in Kamina, together with Indian army Gurkhas (seemingly 3rd Battalion, 1 Gorkha Rifles), made several attempts to relieve the besieged Irish soldiers.[51] The supporting force of mercenaries (many of them French, German, Belgian and South African; almost all veterans of the Algerian War) beat back these efforts.[52] They had been brought in by Moïse Tshombe, Katanga's premier, whose secessionist government had been supported by Belgium.[53]

Attempting to reach the besieged A Company, the relief column, named "Force Kane" after its commander Commandant John Kane,[54] was stymied in a series of battles at a pinch point called the Lufira Bridge. This bridge carried the Jadotville-to-Elisabethville Highway across the Lufira River. The Katangese forces dug in here and brought heavy and sustained ground and air fire onto the relief column, killing up to five Indian UN troops, injuring a number of Irish UN troops and ultimately forcing the column off the bridge.[55][56] Additionally, during the effort to reach the trapped company, the Katanga forces set off charges on the railway bridge to impede potential relief efforts.[57]

On 14 September, the Katangan Fouga jet flew passes over the battlefield, dropping bombs that rendered the Company's vehicles inert[58] and caused injuries to two Irish soldiers.[59]

During the siege, the Irish radioed to their headquarters: "We will hold out until our last bullet is spent. Could do with some whiskey".[40]

On 16 September, a second attempt to reach the Irish Company was made, but failed with another three Indian troops being killed and a further eight soldiers suffering injuries.[60] The Katangese asked Quinlan for a ceasefire, as their own forces had been diminished. By this time, their effective strength may have been reduced to 2,000 men. Later that same day, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Quinlan and the Burgomaster of the Katangan forces, enabling the Irish troops to re-supply with water; the Gendarmerie retreated from their positions surrounding the UN compound.[61]

Quinlan lacked any clear direction or communication from his superiors, and the Katangese gradually infringed on the ceasefire agreement to undermine "A" Company's position. With his position untenable --without any clear orders or promise of assistance, having run out of ammunition and food and being low on water-- Quinlan accepted their second offer to surrender.[43][45] On 17 September, Quinlan met with Katanga Minister Munongo, in which a formal written ceasefire and surrender agreement was made, which contained the proviso that the Irish Company would keep their weapons and be unharmed.[62]

A Company, 35th Battalion, suffered five wounded in action during the siege.[n 1] While sources vary,[9] the Katangese may have suffered up to 300 killed,[10] including 30 mercenaries and an indeterminate number of wounded, with figures ranging from 300 to 1,000.[51][11]

The Irish soldiers were held as hostages for approximately one month, in an effort to force terms of ceasefire that were embarrassing to the United Nations.[64]

After being released, the troops were returned to their base in Elisabethville. Some weeks later, however, "A" Company found itself in active combat again,[65] this time with the support of Swedish UN troops. Eventually, they were reinforced with fresh troops from Ireland (their replacement was the 36th Battalion).[66] After weeks of fighting and their six-month tour of duty now complete, "A" Company was rotated out of the battle zone and were home in Ireland that December.[10]

Aftermath

[edit]
Fouga Magister similar to the armed one used by the Katangese during the siege

While Operation Morthor was halted by Secretary General Hammarskjöld, its failure and the bloodshed it caused led to an anti-UN campaign by Katanga.[38]

In January 1963, UNOC'S Operation Grandslam decisively defeated the forces of the self proclaimed State of Katanga, reintegrating the region into the Congo, while Moïse Tshombe fled the country. UN forces did not completely leave the Congo until 30 June 1964.[38]

The various failures of the UNOC mission during 1961, including the assassination of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and the death toll of Operation Morthor, led elements of the UN to downplay attention to the Siege of Jadotville.[67]

Only in 2005 did the Irish Army pardon Company A for their surrender,[68] and until the early 21st century, the Irish state did not give much recognition to the battle of Jadotville either. The term "Jadotville Jack" was sometimes applied as a term of derision about the Irish Defence Forces. After the incident no Irish soldier received any decoration for his actions at Jadotville, although Commandant Quinlan recommended a number of his men for the Military Medal for Gallantry (MMG), Ireland's highest award for military valour, for their actions during the battle.[69]

Although "A" Company, 35th Battalion had tactically defeated a vastly larger enemy force at Jadotville, the Irish Defence Forces' leadership did not overtly acknowledge the battle. There may have been perceived shame that "A" Company had surrendered, or because of political and strategic errors demonstrated at higher levels.[50]

According to RTÉ, "Commandant Quinlan's action is cited in military textbooks worldwide as the best example of the use of the so-called perimeter defence".[70][71]

The veterans of Jadotville were dissatisfied that the Defence Forces refused to acknowledge the battle and that there was an implied black mark on the reputation of their commander. A number of Irish soldiers, who had been involved in the siege, reputedly took their own lives in later years.[49][72] Quinlan, who died in 1997, had his public reputation restored nine years after his death.[73] John Gorman, a retired soldier who had been a 17-year-old private during the fight, campaigned to have the Battle of Jadotville recognised. In 2004 Irish Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea agreed to hold a full review of the battle. A Defence Forces inquiry cleared Quinlan and "A" Company of allegations of soldierly misconduct. A commemorative stone recognising the soldiers of "A" Company was erected on the grounds of Custume Barracks in Athlone in 2005. A commissioned portrait of Quinlan was installed in the Congo Room of the Irish Defence Forces' UN School.[74]

In 2016 the Irish government awarded a Presidential Unit Citation to "A" Company,[75] the first in the State's history.[76] In October 2017 a plaque commemorating Quinlan was unveiled in his native County Kerry, by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny.[70] The decision of the state to honour individually the soldiers of Jadotville or their next of kin was one of the last decisions taken by Enda Kenny before he retired as Taoiseach in June 2017. They were presented with newly-designed Siege of Jadotville Medals in Athlone on 2 December 2017.[77]

On the same day as Commandant Quinlan's surrender to Minister Munongo, Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, on route to peace talks with Prime Minister Moise Tshombe, died in an aeroplane crash, which happened under "dubious" circumstances.[78]

Following the failure of Operation Morthor, Conor Cruise O'Brien worked at the University of Ghana, before moving to the New York University and publishing several academic texts. Following academia, he also became a member of the Irish parliament.[79]

[edit]

Declan Power's history, The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army's Forgotten Battle (2005),[80] was adapted as the film, The Siege of Jadotville (2016).[81] The cast includes Jamie Dornan and Mark Strong, and the movie had a "well received" premiere at the 2016 Galway Film Festival.[82] It had a limited cinematic release in September 2016,[83] and worldwide release on Netflix, on 7 October 2016.[84][85] A radio documentary on the siege was broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 in 2004.[86]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Among the wounded was 20-year-old Private (later Sergeant) Bill Ready from Mullingar, County Westmeath, who was shot in the leg,[45][44] and thus earned "the unusual distinction" of being the first Irish Army soldier "injured in combat on foreign soil".[44][63] He later said that after receiving medical treatment he returned to the fight as everybody was needed.[44]

References

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Soldiers of Fortune Mercenary wars: Congo 1960/68". Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. ^ Ciaran Byrne (27 July 2016). "The True Story of the Heroic Battle That Inspired the New Netflix Film The Siege of Jadotville". Time. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  3. ^ Tom Farrell (9 October 2011). "Band of brothers: Tom Farrell talks to some of the survivors 50 years on". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2017. Although he is described in the text as a 'platoon commander' who was eventually a captain, the accompanying photograph is marked 'Lt Noel Carey'.
  4. ^ de Kémoularia, Claude (2007). Une vie à tire-d'aile: Mémoires. Fayard. p. 142. ISBN 9782213658476. Selon les précisions que me donna De Troye, les 12 mercenaires blancs qui commandaient les 500 gendarmes katangais avaient , en réalité , redouté de voir leurs troupes indisciplinées massacrer les soldats de l'ONU , ce qui eût été catastrophique pour eux
  5. ^ Power 2005, p. 153: "the Katangans had begun moving in large numbers of troops culminating in a brigade strength unit of approximately 3,000"
  6. ^ "Congo, Part 1; 1960–1963". Air Combat Information Group. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  7. ^ Patrick Quinlan (1961). Nominal Roll 'A' Company, 35 Irish Bn Irish Contingent JADOTVILLE - 18 Sept 1961. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021.
  8. ^ Independent Review Group Report 2021, p.112, 152: "The Irish contingent was 'B' Company, 35 Inf Bn, and the Indian contingent 'B' Company of the 3/1 Gurkha Rifles.
  9. ^ a b c Valahu, Mugur (1963). Ci-gît le Katanga, 1961, 1962, 1963. Nouvelles Editions Latines. p. 259-260. A Jadotville, du côté katangais, il y a eu pendant les trois jours de bagarres, deux soldats africains et un mercenaire français tués , et huit blessés
  10. ^ a b c d e "The True Story of the Heroic Battle That Inspired the New Netflix Film The Siege of Jadotville". TIME. 27 July 2016.
  11. ^ a b Mockaitis, Thomas R. (1999). Peace Operations and Intrastate Conflict. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 29. ISBN 9780275961732. the entire garrison of Jadotville was forced to surrender on 17 September [..to..] a force variously estimated at between 2,000 and 5,000, suffering five wounded while inflicting perhaps 150 casualties on the gendarmes
  12. ^ a b "Film 'Siege of Jadotville' to reveal heroism of Irish troops". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  13. ^ Asante 2014, p. 302-303.
  14. ^ Irish Military Archives Exhibition.
  15. ^ a b c O'Neill 2002, p. 135.
  16. ^ O'Neill 2002, p. 139.
  17. ^ Britannica:"Congo Free State". Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  18. ^ Oliver, Roland; Sanderson, G.N., eds. (1975), The Cambridge History of Africa, Cambridge University Press, p. 342, ISBN 978-0-521-22803-9, retrieved 17 March 2021
  19. ^ a b Brownell, Josiah (2014), "Diplomatic Lepers: The Katangan and Rhodesian Foreign Missions in the United States and the Politics of Nonrecognition", The International Journal of African Historical Studies, 47 (2): 212, 213
  20. ^ Kent, John (2017), "The Neo-colonialism of Decolonisation: Katangan Secession and the Bringing of the Cold War to the Congo", Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, 45 (1): 93-130 (pp. 102-03)
  21. ^ a b Aksu, Eşref (2010), The United Nations, Intra-State Peacekeeping and Normative Change, Manchester: Manchester University Press, p. 105, 117
  22. ^ O'Neill 2002, p. 127.
  23. ^ Melber 2017, pp. 262–263.
  24. ^ O'Neill 2002, p. 128.
  25. ^ O'Donoghue 2006, p. 45.
  26. ^ O'Neill 2002, pp. 129–30.
  27. ^ Leon Gordenker, 'Conor Cruise O'Brien and the Truth about the United Nations’, International Organisation, 23(4) (1969), 879-913 (p. 897).
  28. ^ Christopher Hitchens, ‘Conor Cruise O’Brien’, Grand Street, 6(3) (1987), 142-160 (p. 146).
  29. ^ O'Neill 2002, p. 130.
  30. ^ a b c O'Neill 2002, p. 131.
  31. ^ Klinger 2005, p. 91.
  32. ^ a b c Klinger 2005, p. 92.
  33. ^ David N. Gibbs, ‘Dag Hammarskjold, the United Nations, and the Congo Crisis of 1960-61: A Reinterpretation’, The Journal of Modern African Studies, 31(1) (1993), 163-174 (p. 166)
  34. ^ O'Neill 2002, pp. 131–132.
  35. ^ Melber 2017, pp. 264.
  36. ^ Melber, Henning (2014), "The Death of Dag Hammarskjöld", Review of African Political Economy, no. 41, pp. 458-456 (p. 459)
  37. ^ O'Neill 2002, p. 134.
  38. ^ a b c Gibbs, David N. (1993), "Dag Hammarskjold, the United Nations, and the Congo Crisis of 1960-61: A Reinterpretation", The Journal of Modern African Studies, 31 (1): 163-174 (p. 168)
  39. ^ "Southern Rhodesia". 19 September 2024. 15 November 1965.
  40. ^ a b "War in Katanga". TIME. 22 September 1961. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008.
  41. ^ "The Siege of Jadotville: How the bravery of Irish UN soldiers was shunned". Derry Journal. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  42. ^ a b c O'Neill 2002, p. 133.
  43. ^ a b Power 2005, p. 201-208.
  44. ^ a b c d Tom Farrell (9 October 2011). "Band of brothers: Tom Farrell talks to some of the survivors 50 years on". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2017. Bill Ready of Mullingar, then a private aged 20 ... Sergeant Ready was the first casualty, shot in the left thigh about four hours later. ... ... I was back out in the trenches before long because everyone was required that could move.'
  45. ^ a b c "Brave Vets Medal Shame; Jungle fighters honoured.. with award they had to pay for themselves". Sunday Mirror. 5 May 2002.
  46. ^ "Irish wheels on African soil: the Ford armoured car". History Ireland. No. 6. November 2010. During the siege at Jadotville in September 1961 two Ford armoured cars fired 15,000 rounds of ammunition over four days while defending Irish soldiers
  47. ^ Independent Review Group Report 2021, 122, 134: "Quinlan also had at his disposal two Ford armoured cars with Vickers medium machine guns, as well as a jeep with a mounted Vickers".
  48. ^ Independent Review Group Report 2021, 112: "'A' Company brought with them a section of two armoured cars commanded by Lt Kevin Knightly, from 35 Inf Bn’s Armoured Car Group..
  49. ^ a b "The legacy of Jadotville for Irish veterans: Suicide, alcoholism and PTSD". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  50. ^ a b Whelan 2006.
  51. ^ a b "Bravery of Irish soldiers at Jadotville siege to be examined – Naughten". Fine Gael News. 12 May 2004. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. 3rd Battalion, 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) was operating as part of 99th Indian Infantry Brigade during Morthor. Nambiar, Sundaram, Chhina, 'For the Honor of India: A History of Indian Peacekeeping,' Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, USI of India, New Delhi, ISBN 978-81-902097-8-6, 2009, 201, 217.
  52. ^ Ralph Riegel; John O'Mahony (2010). Missing in Action: The 50 Year Search for Ireland's Missing Soldier. Mercier Press Ltd. p. 106. ISBN 9781856356947. [at the] Lufira River [..] the UN didn't have the bridging equipment to bypass the Katangan position [.. and ..] the Katangan gendarmes were now being led by freshly recruited French, German, Belgian and South African soldiers who were Algerian veterans almost to a man
  53. ^ Asante 2014, p. 302: "Moishe Tshombe, leader of Katanga, declared, with Belgian support, Katanga independent
  54. ^ Independent Review Group Report 2021, 133 "The relief force for Jadotville was commanded by Comdt John Kane".
  55. ^ Irish Military Archives Exhibition, Force Kane II: "The Gurkhas [of Force Kane] suffered five fatalities and twelve wounded. Four Irish troops were also wounded"
  56. ^ Power 2005, p. 229: "An attempt by Gurkha infantry, accompanied by Irish armored cars, to make a lightning dash across the bridge [..led to..] Three of the Indians were killed outright and eight other soldiers were wounded"
  57. ^ O'Neill 2002, pp. 135–136.
  58. ^ O'Neill 2002, p. 136.
  59. ^ 35 Cathlan Coisithe sa Chongo 1961, p. 95.
  60. ^ O'Neill 2002, pp. 137–138.
  61. ^ 35 Cathlan Coisithe sa Chongo 1961, p. 97.
  62. ^ 35 Cathlan Coisithe sa Chongo 1961, p. 99.
  63. ^ Eilis Ryan (7 November 2016). "Death of Jadotville soldier Bill Ready". Westmeath Examiner. Retrieved 30 October 2017. he was shot at Jadotville, and held the unusual distinction of being the first Irish soldier injured in combat on foreign soil
  64. ^ Haskin 2005.
  65. ^ Power 2005: "Quinlan's men were to find themselves in combat again, literally days before they boarded the Globemasters to go home. This time it was on the night of December 12, when the Katangese set up a roadblock near the Soco petrol depot"
  66. ^ "The Real Siege of Jadotville Part III: Veteran Tony Dykes on the Fight for Elisabethville | All About History". www.historyanswers.co.uk. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  67. ^ Cruise O'Brien, Conor (1962). Katanga and Back. Hutchinson.
  68. ^ O'Donoghue 2006, p. 49.
  69. ^ "Only one Jadotville siege Army veteran to get medal". The Irish Times. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  70. ^ a b "Former Taoiseach unveils plaque honouring Jadotville commandant". RTE. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017. Commandant Quinlan's action is cited in military textbooks worldwide as the best example of the use of the so-called perimeter defence.
  71. ^ O'Riordan, Sean (19 October 2021). "Senior US officer criticises lack of medals for Irish soldiers who went 'above and beyond' at Jadotville". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 September 2024. Jadotville was studied by US soldiers as example of excellent defensive tactics
  72. ^ "Five Irish soldiers took their own lives after Jadotville siege". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  73. ^ Carney, Jim (c. 2012). "From Galway to the Congo — into the Heart of Darkness – Part 2". The Tuam Herald. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  74. ^ Sweeney, Eamon (5 August 2016). "The Siege of Jadotville: How the bravery of Irish UN soldiers was shunned". Derry Journal. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  75. ^ "Soldiers recognised for Jadotville bravery". RTÉ News. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  76. ^ "Jadotville ceremony rights a "grievous wrong"". Westmeath Examiner. 17 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016. This is the first time that a Unit Citation has been awarded within the Irish Defence Forces
  77. ^ Majella O'Sullivan (29 October 2017). "Jadotville hero is honoured on the Ring of Kerry". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  78. ^ Melber 2017, p. 265.
  79. ^ Leon Gordenker, 'Conor Cruise O'Brien and the Truth about the United Nations’, International Organisation, 23(4) (1969), 879-913 (p. 898).
  80. ^ Power 2005, p. 1.
  81. ^ "28th Galway Film Fleadh – July 2016 – The Siege of Jadotville". Galwayfilmfleadh.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  82. ^ "Jamie Dornan's latest film wins standing ovation at Galway Film Fleadh". Irish Independent. 11 July 2016.
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  85. ^ "First trailer of Siege of Jadotville is nail-biting". RTÉ. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  86. ^ "The Siege At Jadotville". rte.ie. RTÉ Radio 1. 21 January 2004. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

Sources

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Further reading

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  • Doyle, Rose; Quinlan, Leo (2006). Heroes of Jadotville (The Soldiers' Story). Dublin: New Island. ISBN 1-905494-31-9.
  • Dunleavy, Pat (2005). O'Donoghue, David (ed.). "Fighting For Our Lives With 'Jadotville Jack'". The Irish Army in the Congo 1960–1964: The Far Battalions (Reprinted 2006 ed.). Irish Academic Press. pp. 105–112. ISBN 0-7165-3319-7.
  • Foghlú, Sean Ó (2011). No White Feather. Book Republic. ISBN 978-1-907221-06-4.
  • Froberg, Lars (2005). O'Donoghue, David (ed.). "Remembering Jadotville". The Irish Army in the Congo 1960–1964: The Far Battalions (Reprinted 2006 ed.). Irish Academic Press. pp. 113–126. ISBN 0-7165-3319-7.
  • Greene, John (2012). Red Legs: One Irish Boy's African Adventure. ISBN 9781904244837.
  • Erik Kennes, Miles Larmer, The Katangese Gendarmes and War in Central Africa: Fighting Their Way Home, Indiana University Press, 2016
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