Joe Mallon

Company Sergeant

Joe (Joseph) Mallon, Company Sergeant (retired), enlisted in the Defence Forces on his birthday in 1958. His father served during the Emergency and advised him to join the Army. His brother also served in the Defence Forces. He worked as an instructor training recruits and non-commissioned officers for much of his career and was serving as a Company Sergeant in the Cadet School in the Military College at the time of his retirement from the Defence Forces in 1989. He went overseas with the 32nd Infantry Battalion, which was the first Irish Battalion to serve in the Congo in 1960. He also served with the 38th Battalion in the Congo, the 11th Infantry Group in Cyprus and the 51st Infantry Battalion in the Lebanon. He was interviewed for the Military Archives Oral History Project on 15th February 2017.

First Impressions of Congo

Joe Mallon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 15/12/2017
Location(s): Elizabethville

Length: 1.37

Here, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon speaks about his first impressions of landing in the Congo in 1960 with the 32nd Battalion. He discusses the challenges of the hot climate as well as reactions to the vaccinations and inoculations which they had received in Dublin.

Lebanon 1982

Joe Mallon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 15/12/2017
Location(s): Lebanon

Length: 2.14

In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon, a native of Ballysax in County Kildare speaks about his tour to the Lebanon with the 51st Infantry Battalion – May 1982 – Oct 1982. He discusses 'Operation Rubicon', which he states happened during this time. He recalls an incident when an Israeli...

Loneliness of Congo

Joe Mallon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 15/12/2017
Location(s): Elizabethville

Length: 1.12

Here, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon reflects on his tour with the 32nd Battalion (32nd Infantry Battalion - Jul 1960 – Jan 1961) and discusses the loyalty and discipline within the battalion. He also reflects on loneliness on a tour and the importance of keeping oneself occupied as much as possible....

Volunteering for Congo – July 1960

Joe Mallon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 15/12/2017
Location(s): Duncannon Fort

Length: 2.37

In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon outlines how he was selected for the 32nd Battalion tour of the Congo in 1960. He recalls going on the first ever summer camp to Wexford to Duncannon Fort. After two days in the Summer Camp and that a Muster Parade was ordered....

Army training in 1960

Joe Mallon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 15/12/2017
Location(s): Curragh Camp

Length: 0.53

In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon recalls training for the army in 1960. He discusses about his experiences of training and recalls his memories of his early days in the army, including training, uniforms, routine etc.

Lessons from Niemba Ambush

Joe Mallon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 15/02/2017
Location(s): Niemba

Length: 2.31

Company Sergeant Joe Mallon speaks about the Niemba Ambush (November 1960) and outlines his memories and feelings on the incident. He mentions that he had a diary from this tour. He also notes that Trooper Browne's body was found while he was on tour with the 38th Battalion. Anthony Browne...

Leaving for Congo

Joe Mallon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 15/12/2017
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome Congo

Length: 3.02

In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon, a native of Ballysax in County Kildare speaks about his family's feelings on his tour to the Congo. Joe was 17 years of age when he first went to the Congo with the first group to travel there (32nd Battalion). He recalls the...