Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army's Forgotten Battle

Declan Power

Jan 2015 · Maverick House

About this ebook

During the course of operations, a company of Irish troops was deployed to protect the inhabitants of the village of Jadotville. Not long after deployment, the troops found themselves heavily out-numbered and engaged in a pitched battle with native Congolese soldiers led by white mercenary officers. In addition to the overwhelming odds, the Irish also had to contend with being strafed by a jet and had no airpower or anti-aircraft defences to defend themselves.Appeals for re-supply from UN forces were to no avail. There were a number of attempts by Irish troops in the vicinity to mount a relief operation for their surrounded comrades. However, a mixture of superior fire, physical obstacles and political machinations within the UN led to abject failure. But after numerous rescue attempts failed and the Irish had fought to their last rounds of ammunition and were already using bayonets in hand-to-hand-fighting, Comdt Quinlan decided against the needless bloodshed of his men and surrendered. Though many of the men fought bravely, some going on to be decorated for valour at later stages, they were made to feel inferior within the army. To have served at Jadotville was something to have been ashamed of.

Ratings and reviews

Good book because I watched the movie it gives you a lot more understanding and that makes the book a lot better

good book and well researched

About the author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Declan Power is a security and defence journalist. He formerly served with three combat arms of the Irish Army before attending military college. His first book, Siege at Jadotville: the Irish Army’s forgotten battle, published in 2005, was critically received.