The taoiseach enda kenny td, together with minister with responsibility for defence, paul kehoe td, have today decided to award a medal to the men of a company, 35th infantry battalion and the next of kin of deceased members, to give full and due recognition in honour of their courageous actions at the battle of jadotville in september 1961. An cor coisithe is the largest component of the irish army. May 31, 2017 losses suffered by the katanga gendarmerie and european mercenaries were out of all proportion to the losses suffered by the irish defenders. The unit citation given to a company, 35th infantry battalion irish army for their actions during the siege of jadotville in the congo 1961. Patrick clooney, who fought so doggedly in the streets of perugia, died while rallying the men of the irish brigade at antietam. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me. By this time a company had no water and several men had been wounded. This page is for family members of soldiers training in c company 35th engineer battalion.
On 1 february 1957 company a, 35th infantry was reorganized and redesignated as headquarters and headquarters company, 1st battle group, 35th infantry and assigned to the 25th infantry division. Royal irish fusiliers, 1st battalion, a company 4th extra reserve battalion, formerly the cavan militia royal irish fusiliers. C company 35th engineer battalion, fort leonard wood, mo. A member of the defence forces holds the medals at custume barracks, athlone, where the presentation of an bonn jadotville, to the veterans and relatives of those who served a company 35th. The irish government agreed and enabling legislation was passed in the dail on july 19. In early september the unit was sent to the remote mining town of jadotville, 80 miles northwest of the katangese capital of elisabethville. Its the first unit citation ever given in the irish defence forces. Adair county home guard mounted infantry adair county home guard company infantry. The battle of in honour of the officers, ncos and men of a. I started this page to talk about and share the progress of my 15mm army as i research. I have also decided that portraits of lt col mcnamee 35th battalion commander and comdt. Infantry soldiers are regarded as operational troops who must be prepared for tactical deployment in any location at short notice. It is the story of 155 soldiers of the a company, 35th battalion of the irish army who fought against an enemy that outnumbered them, for five days while kept under siege in.
Despite their courageous resistance and the sustained efforts of 35th infantry battalion hq to provide assistance, a company was taken into captivity on 17th september. The late colonel pat quinlan from caherdaniel, co kerry, was commandant of a company, 35th infantry battalion, in september 1961 when he and his men came under attack from 3,500 mercenaries and. Sergeant obrien was a member of company e, 2nd battalion, 35th infantry regiment, 25th infantry division. In honour of the officers, ncos and men of a company 35th infantry battalion, united nations force in the congo onuc who had the misfortune to suffer so much at jadotville in the province of katanga in september 1961. Some of the men of the popes irish battalion went on to have distinguished military careers, particularly in the union ranks during the american civil war. Feb 16, 2010 the 35th indiana infantry was the only irish regiment mustered into federal service from the state of indiana. Initially the irish battalion was deployed in kivu province. A battalion was activated and designated 32nd infantry battalion. The 35th indiana infantry was the only irish regiment mustered into federal service from the state of indiana. I started this page to talk about and share the progress of my 15mm army as i research and build. Iunva post 2 chairman welcomes congo hero at agm the maine. We literally would all have died in jadotville but for him.
Barracks in athlone to the 35th battalion a company in recognition of the. Other 35th infantry regiment resources the 35th infantry regiment association and the third brigades of the 25th and 4th infantry divisions site is shared by two sets of pages. William robert sparkes enlisted with c company 35th battalion on the 21st of november 1915 with his brother private. The film follows a company of the irish 35th battalion deployed as a. The siege of jadotville is a 2016 movie, which is based on the book, siege at jadotville, by declan power, which is based on the real events that unfolded during the congo crisis in the early 1960s. Quinlans lightly armed company was besieged in jadotville modern likasi, and resisted katangese assaults for six days. Iunva post 2 chairman welcomes congo hero at agm the.
The 35th regiment association, and a broader section on the3rd brigade 114. A company remained in captivity until finally released on 25th october 1961. Nov 21, 2019 the history of how a force of 155 raw and poorlyequipped irish soldiers held back an army of 3,500 rebels, including seasoned belgian and french mercenaries, in the congo and remarkably survived. Siege at jadotville is the story of the remarkable group of soldiers who made up a company, 35th irish infantry battalion, and the intelligence, bravery, and skill they exhibited under dire circumstances in the congo in 1961.
The siege of jadotville 155 irish soldiers vs 4,000. Kenny unveils plaque honouring jadotville commandant. Headquarters and headquarters company, 35th engineer. Irish soldier of a company, 35th infantry battalion, in. The history of how a force of 155 raw and poorlyequipped irish soldiers held back an army of 3,500 rebels, including seasoned belgian and french mercenaries, in. In 1961, a company, 35th battalion, were flown from ireland via libya airbase to the congo. Apr 25, 2020 it is the story of 155 soldiers of the a company, 35th battalion of the irish army who fought against an enemy that outnumbered them, for five days while kept under siege in the hostile region. Among the features of these pages, you will find a kia listing. At their recent agm, the chairman of post 2, of the irish united nations veterans association, con roche welcomed their new member tadgh quinn from purt, abbeyfeale. C in heavy wool uniforms, brown leggings, leather boots and peaked caps. Royal irish fusiliers, 1st battalion, a company 4th extra reserve battalion, formerly the cavan militia royal irish fusiliers 27. In wartime, this means that they will be among the front line troops in the defence of the state. When completed, these portraits will hang in the congo room in the united nations training school in the curragh.
Irish soldier of a company, 35th infantry battalion, in elisabethville, before the siege of jadotville 1961. The film follows a company of the irish 35th battalion deployed as a united nations peacekeeping mission to the. Louis 8th infantry relieved 1 march 1942 from assignment to the 35th division reorganized and redesignated 1 april 1942 as headquarters company, 1st battalion, 8th infantry. Headquarters and headquarters company, 35th engineer brigade. Constituted 1 july 1916 in the regular army as company a, 35th infantry. The veterans of jadotville honoured by the irish government. Tom farrell talks to some of the survivors 50 years on. A company, 35th battalion suffered only five wounded troops whilst as many as 300 of the battalions assailants were killed. Name address alternative address civil parish rank regimentunit. The lightly armed and equipped irish soldiers fiercely resisted katangese assaults for six days as a force of irish and swedish troops. Well done to all the thousands of men and women who have served with the following units, not forgetting the ones who lost their lives in the service of peace.
The list is a true testament of the contribution the irish defence forces makes to world peace and a reflection of the country in general. The new battalion had a total strength of 685 under the command of lt. The siege of jadotville was an engagement during the congo crisis in september 1961. Irish army no stranger to africa archive irish echo. Reorganized and redesignated 1 may 1940 as headquarters detachment, 1st battalion, 8th infantry. Oct 28, 2017 the late colonel pat quinlan from caherdaniel, co kerry, was commandant of a company, 35th infantry battalion, in september 1961 when he and his men came under attack from 3,500 mercenaries and. Sep 26, 2016 incredible story of 150 irish soldiers who fought 3,500 rebels in the congo for 6 days inspiring jamie dornans new film. Soldiers from the irish battalion who fought at the siege of. Incredible story of 150 irish soldiers who fought 3,500 rebels in the congo for 6 days inspiring jamie dornans new film. Very few irish soldiers were sent out on western command at the time few had been outside the country and most had never been on an airplane. Information william ryan enlisted with b company 35th battalion aif on the 8th of january 1916 and was an original member of the battalion and left sydney on board hmat a24 benalla on the 1st of may 1916 and returned to australia on the 21st on july 1918. Missouri home guard authorized by general lyon to organize for the protection and preservation of peace in their respective neighborhoods. During this action, a small party of 150 irish soldiers a company, 35th battalion was attacked by a larger force of almost 4,000 katangese troops, as well as french, belgian and rhodesian mercenaries, and supported by a trainer jet a fouga cm.
Major companies doing business in united states and canada. Losses suffered by the katanga gendarmerie and european mercenaries were out of all proportion to the losses suffered by the irish defenders. Incredible story of 150 irish soldiers who fought 3,500. Jadotville is a story of ordinary soldiers doing extraordinary things. This video includes original photos, and photos of reenactors who continue to. Quinlan company commander a company should be commissioned. The presentation of the jadotville medal, to the veterans of a company 35th infantry battalion and the relatives of deceased members of a company 35th infantry battalion in athlone barracks. Portraits of named civil war enlisted men prints and. The irish guns of the siege of jadotville movie the. Inducted into federal service 23 december 1940 at st. The unit citation given to a company, 35th infantry battalion. Quinn is a real live irish hero who was part of the 157 strong a company 35th infantry battalion according to post pro, john wade. Around 150 irishmen of a company, 35th infantry battalion had been.
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