THE SIEGE OF JADOTVILLE PART II: AN OFFICER UNDER FIRE
No. 3 Platoon, A Company, 35th Battalion in Jadotville, pose in front of a UN relief helicopter shortly after the ceasefire was declared, 17 September 1961. Lieutenant Noel Carey is kneeling in the front row, third from right
In September 1961, 156 members of A Company, 35th Irish Infantry Battalion were serving in the Congo as part of a UN mission to keep the peace in a country that was descending into civil war. But instead of just keeping the peace, the Irish soldiers found themselves fighting for their lives in secessionist Katanga. Between 13-17 September 1961 these inexperienced and underequipped troops put up a heroic defence in the mining town of Jadotville against 2,000-4,000 Katangese-armed gendarmeries and battle-hardened mercenaries.
Thanks to the brilliant leadership of Commandant Patrick ‘Pat’ Quinlan, A Company’s attackers suffered 300-400 killed and around 1,000 wounded. In contrast the Irish remarkably suffered no fatalities and only five wounded. Despite this, they were inadequately supported by the UN high command and were forced to surrender. After a gruelling captivity they returned home to a cold reception from the Irish Army, and the veterans’ bravery went unrecognised for over 40 years. However, since the early 2000s the siege has become acknowledged as one of the most wrongfully forgotten battles in Irish and UN military history, and surviving veterans have belatedly been honoured.
Ten Irish Army officers served at Jadotville. The youngest, Lieutenant Noel Carey, was only 25 years old, but he led 30 men in No. 3 Platoon during the siege. His courage was noticed by Pat Quinlan, who later described Carey as “a fearless officer with the qualities of leadership which are demanded in desperate situations such as this.” Quinlan officially recommended Carey for a merit award but the Irish Army medals board refused to grant any decorations to individually nominated veterans – a situation that still exists today.
Now aged 81, Carey recalls his experiences commanding men during this remarkable event in the Cold War.
Noel Carey’s commanding officer, Commandant Pat Quinlan. Carey recalls that Quinlan could often be a difficult man but was also a brilliant leader
Deployment to the Congo
When were you commissioned as an officer in the Irish Army?
I joined in 1954 as
