Comments on: Jadotville soldiers honoured

By: Declan

Declan — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 04:54:15 +0000

I grew up hearing my dad’s stories about Jadotville. I just finished Declan Power’s book, and it was fascinating to see my father’s memories confirmed in vivid detail.

The stone inside the walls of Custume Bks. is nice, and I hate to be negative, but it’s simply not enough. It will be seen only by members of the army, will never be highlighted with the pride and honor these men deserve. As far as I am concerned, the stone simply holds down that rug under which the event has been shoved. I don’t mean to denegrate the tireless work done by those campaigning for even this recognition, I simply mean that the army should do more in this case.

Give the surviving men, and their families the medals that Comdt Quinnlan recommended, and put a bloody monument where we can see it, where we can point to it and share the story with visitors to our town, and say, ‘yes, that was what our fathers and grandfathers did in 1961 under the blue flag’.

I have mellowed a little with age, but this is one thing that seems to just piss me off. Apologies for being blunt. So who do I write to about this?

By: P J sweeney

P J sweeney — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:48:24 +0000

As a member of A coy 35th Batt it is about time that what we were put into in Jadotville and how UN rules were to play such a big part in Comdt Quinnlan’s decesions

By: maca

maca — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:44:22 +0000

This one? I was reading it earlier. There should be a full page on the siege if anyone is willing to do it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadotville

By: John Muligan

John Muligan — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:35:36 +0000

I went into Google, typed in Jadotville and it was about six down below Raimeis.

N�l an caint seo Raim�is, is � an fh�rinne at� ann!

By: maca

maca — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:28:57 +0000

Welcome to the site John.
I’ve been meaning to get the book, must put it on my christmas list.
Do you have a link for the Wiki page you edited?

By: John Muligan

John Muligan — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 11:55:36 +0000

I just went in to Wikipaedia and edited a completely inaccurate account of the siege. This book by Declan Power is doing a great service and those who care about the Irish army should all do their bit to correct such lies!

By: John Muligan

John Muligan — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 11:33:07 +0000

I just got the book and am dying to read it. I had several members of the family in the Congo over the years and they had some harrowing tales to tell. The Irish soldier is completely undervalued and deserves better pay, conditions and recognition.
Great site and some very interesting comment!

By: maca

maca — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 22:07:52 +0000

Thanks for posting Hawkeye. It’s good to hear from someone with some first hand experience of the Congo.
Coincidentially, I got a mail today from someone today who is looking for information on the Niemba ambush, a friend of his was amongst those killed. If you don’t mind i’ll forward the email to you, would that be ok?

By: Hawkeye

Hawkeye — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 21:52:39 +0000

Nice to hear good comments from young chaps who have heard of Katanga and Jadotville. Lovely place, but not too friendly people. I should know, I was THERE with ‘A ‘Coy.35th Irish.Batt, ONUC. I was in Custume Bks. Athlone too for the unveiling of Memorial and at LAST felt a Sense of Pride that they ‘slur’ had finally been lifted from our brve actions and in particularly the Leadership of Cmdt.P.J.Quinlan, Coy.Cmdr.

By: maca

maca — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 23:56:28 +0000

Good post, thanks for sharing Proinsias!