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Siege at Jadotville - Declan Power
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SIEGE AT JADOTVILLE
Declan Power
www.maverickhouse.com
email: info@maverickhouse.com
ISBN 0-9548707-1-9
5432
The paper used in this book comes from wood pulp of managed
forests. For every tree felled, at least one tree is planted, thereby
renewing natural resources.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library.
DEDICATION
To my parents, Maura and Anthony Power, for their
patience and guidance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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veterans whose information played a pivotal role in this
book.
These men included retired BQMS Pat Neville.
Though well into his eighties, he was able to regale
me with stories about life in the Army during its infancy
in the 1930s. He painted a picture of a tough existence
that laid the foundation for the Army’s successes in the
Congo.
The personal diary of Walter Hegarty DSM, the
once-youthful platoon sergeant of No 2 Platoon, paints
a vivid picture of what the young soldiers of A Company
faced at Jadotville. In addition, he painstakingly copied
documents, letters and diaries as well as pictures for
inclusion in this book.
Walter was ever patient in explaining the lead up to
Jadotville from an infantry soldier’s viewpoint. Having
met him, it came as no surprise to learn that he was later
to be decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal
for displaying “outstanding leadership, resourcefulness
and courage” under enemy fire at a later date after
Jadotville.
Retired Capt Noel Carey, although typical of many
veterans who do not like to talk directly about their
role in action, was persuaded to give me unprecedented
access to his personal papers of the time.
I am deeply appreciative of this, for his commentary
is unguarded, candid and searingly honest about his
experience. His diary was also of considerable help in
establishing a narrative theme that ordered many of the
other anecdotal accounts I received from veterans.
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Other veterans who helped by giving me their
reminiscences include the men of the Irish United
Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), Post 20, in
Mullingar.
Men such as Sgt William (Bob) Allen retd (also later
to be decorated with the DSM), Sgt Bill Ready retd and
Gnr Tom Cunningham retd, spoke at length to me over
the years about their experience. I also owe my thanks
to former BQMS Eddie Robinson, for his assistance
with information and photographs at other times when
I was researching the Jadotville story.
Even though he wore no uniform, retired Irish Times
journalist Cathal O’Shannon can rightly be described as
a veteran of the Congo. I thank him now for taking
the time to talk to me as we approached Christmas
even though he was recovering from jet lag and recent
illness. Although not present at Jadotville, he reported
extensively from the Congo and his anecdotes from this
time helped put a number of things in context.
Of course, there are other people who probably
aren’t even aware of the role they played in bringing this
project to fruition, and of course some who undoubtedly
are more than aware.
My parents, Maura and Anthony Power, showed a
decidedly greater enthusiasm for the project than I was
feeling myself at times. Their foresight in hunting me out
of the comfort of the family home post- Christmas and
making me go back to work in Dublin is appreciated,
I think!
My former and last commanding officer from army
days, Comdt Eoghan Ó Neachtain retd, is a man whose
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friendship, direction and mentoring has had no small
effect on my life. He surely gave me the best advice in
completing this project as I tended towards wallowing
in research for far too long:
“Kill it, kill it now! Don’t let it drag on.”
Appropriate advice from a former artillery officer.
I would like to thank Commandants Victor Laing
and Pat Brennan as well as the non-commissioned staff
of Military Archives who were always willing to be of
assistance with documentation.
I would also like to thank the following for their
assistance: Ken Foxe, Cormac Bourke, Barry Owens,
Aidan Crawley and Ron Quinlan. Also Jean Harrington,
John Mooney and Alicia McAuley of Maverick House.
Thanks too to the others who helped but must stay
anonymous by nature of their appointments.
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CONTENTS
1 Siege at Jadotville 11
2 Prelude to a Fight 30
3 Send in the Irish 52
4 The Mercenary Equation 74
5 Deployment 91
6 A Rum Affair 107
7 Road to Jadotville 125
8 The Jadotville Jacks Dig In 149
9 The Lines of Battle 166
10 Bombardment 179
11 War of Attrition 192
12 Force Kane at Lufira 215
13 Cease-fire and Captivity 224
14 Aftermath and Payback 255
A Company Roll 275
Summary of Important Dates 281
Glossary of Terms 283
List of Sources 291
Index 295
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SIEGE AT JADOTVILLE
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love.
William Butler Yeats, An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
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