Captivity and Aftermath
'Nominal Roll 'A' Company & list of those attached to 'A' Company during the Battle of Jadotville and captivity. List signed by Munongo and Comdt Quinlan 18 Sep 1961 on entering captivity' View the Roll in more detail HERE
On the morning of 18 September, 'A' Company was taken into captivity. The men were bussed into Jadotville town and lodged at the Hotel Europe. They likely now heard the news that Dag Hammarskjöld (The Secretary General of the UN) had been killed in a plane crash just after midnight. Representatives from the International Red Cross visited 'A' Company prisoners on 26 September and reported that they were in good health and high spirits. This report was later reaffirmed by journalists who visited 'A' Company in late September. Comdt Quinlan reported that, while imprisoned in Jadotville, they had no complaints about their treatment. Still, 'A' Company remained on alert and made preparations to defend themselves if needed. The five personnel wounded during the Battle of Jadotville had recovered by early October. The fear in captivity was ever present but Comdt Quinlan worked tirelessly at keeping morale up during this period. The men were kept occupied with training, lectures, discussion, question-time and indoor games. The 156 members of 'A' Company were joined in captivity by two Swedes, one Norwegian and six Italians as well as other Irish soldiers who were captured during the fighting in Elisabethville. The prisoners were guarded by a platoon of Gendarmerie under the command of Adjutant Thomas Simbi.
- 'OS-ONUC-1INFGP-02-023: Notice of Dag Hammarskjöld’s death'
- 'OS-ONUC-35INFBN-07-005: Press Cuttings – Jadotville Prisoners playing cards 3 Oct 1961'
- 'OS-ONUC-35INFBN-07-02: Letter from the Irish Red Cross Society 30 Sep 1961 following their visit to the Irish Prisoners in Jadotville'
'A' company’s position changed for the worse when, on 11 October, they and the other UN prisoners were transferred to Kolwezi. Before arriving at their new prison camp, 'A' Company were confronted by a large group of local women and Gendarmerie who launched into verbal attacks threatening abuse and violence. It was thought that some of the women were relatives of those killed at Jadotville. When 'A' Company eventually arrived at Kolwezi prison camp they were roughly searched and a couple were beaten. Comdt Quinlan and Capt Donnelly strongly protested this and the beatings stopped.
A Katanga-wide ceasefire came into effect on 14 October which provided for the exchange of prisoners. 'A' Company was not released as planned on 16 October. The prisoners were told to be ready to move and were transported out of Kolwezi. Confined to buses and with severely limited food and water, the prisoners were eventually returned to captivity. 'A' Company agreed that they would take over the convoy rather than let this happen again. Thankfully, this plan wasn’t necessary, and 'A' Company was released on 25 October 1961. They returned to the 35th Infantry Battalion and resumed their normal duties. Some would go on to see more action in December during the Battle of the Tunnel in Elisabethville.
- 'OIC-2019-03: McKeown (MacEoin) Private Papers: Protocol of agreement between the Katanga authorities and UNOC [ONUC] pursuant on the ceasefire agreement'
- ‘PRCN-0073-01-01-05: Comdt Pearse Wheatley Private collection: Gendarmerie prisoners waiting at the old airport in Elisabethville for the transfer of A Company prisoners on 16 Oct 1961. A Company did not arrive this day but were released instead on 25 Oct 1961.’
Situation at Home
Initial reports during the Battle came through at home that some or all of the men at Jadotville had been killed. Families read news reports with figures of those killed. Even Lt Gen MacEoin recorded in his diary on 15 September ‘57 killed in Jadotville!’ News was slow to come through and was fractured. What emerged was a structure of communication between the families and neighbours who would relay at once any news of their relatives. With no official support or communication, they relied upon each other. During the period of captivity letters between families at home and 'A' Company were a lifeline. When one family received a letter the news would be shared amongst everyone. Tapes (see below for an extract) were also sent back and forth during captivity where the families and prisoners were able to record messages and in turn, hear their loved ones. The key message sent from the prisoners was not to worry, that they were in good spirits.
"A sample of the recorded messages made by families, partners and acquaintances in response to messages sent home by the imprisoned Irish personnel."
The Return Home
The 35th Infantry Battalion was repatriated to Ireland by 25 December 1961 with elements beginning to return home from late November. Members of 'A' Company received varying receptions. Some were met at Dublin Airport by Minister for Defence Gerald Bartley TD and Chief of Staff Maj Gen Seán Collins-Powell. Journalists were there to report on the return of the heroic Jadotville men. Other members of 'A' Company were met with jeering and white flags in their local barracks. Many Jadotville veterans have described being the subject of such derision. Family members of soldiers involved also tell of similar experiences. They too suffered insults and slaggings. Since their return to the 35th Infantry Battalion in October, 'A' Company felt tension with some of their fellow soldiers. This continued back home. In Barracks around the country, in bars and messes, taunts and name-calling became the norm for some members of 'A' Company. This eventually led to a culture where Jadotville was not spoken of.
“Col Peter Feely talks about the conversations around the surrender and says Comdt Quinlan was an impressive commander”
For 'A' Company, following the battle, there was no debrief, no collective praise for holding out. Initial press reports told of the heroic actions of 'A' Company in Jadotville. Gradually this press interest and praise dwindled. Conversations around Jadotville turned negative. Nobody wanted to talk about it. Those who took part in the battle were trying to deal with their experiences in a time where mental health was not spoken of. There was no after-care. 'A' Company veterans were left to cope with their trauma by themselves or with the help of their families, who also suffered. As well as the memories of battle and captivity, the men of Jadotville had to face this culture of scrutiny. For some, they were able to carry on as normal, others felt they had to leave the Defence Forces. Many continue to have flashbacks and nightmares to this day.
Comdt Quinlan’s final words on Jadotville in his report on 30 October 1961 were:
'All I wish to state here is that I never once saw any man waver. All the officer[s] have the same to report. Every man gave his very best and tried to do more. Their steadfastness and coolness under heavy fire was extraordinary.
My most lasting impressions are of the complete loyalty and devotion to duty on the part of every officer and man'
- 'PC-271-002: Comdt Ollie Barbour Private Collection: Comdt Pat Quinlan (seated) and Capt Dermot Byrne, 2i/c, A Company'
*Material used for this exhibition comes from the following collections: United Nations Operations in Congo Collection (To view the listing, please click HERE), United Nations Unit Histories (To view the Unit Histories for the Congo and Cyprus Missions 1960-1974, please click HERE), Military Archives Photo Box Collection, Oral History Collection (to view details about, and listen to samples from, this project, please click HERE), and Private Collections.