Biography

Seán Norton DSM, Colonel (retired), joined the Defence Forces in January 1955 at the age of nineteen. He went on to the Cadet School and was commissioned in 1959. In December 1961 he went to the Congo with 36th Infantry Battalion. He was one of three Platoon Commanders at the Battle of the Tunnel in Elizabethville, Congo. Two Irish soldiers, including one of the Platoon Commanders were killed in action. Col Norton was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his role in the battle; one of fourteen men from ‘A’, 36th Infantry Battalion to received a DSM. Col  Norton was interviewed for the Military Archives Oral History Project in May 2017.

In this clip, Colonel Norton recalls vividly the day he enlisted in the army. He remembers hitching to the Curragh Camp and walking across the plains on a very snowy night. He states; 'That was a very snowy winter's night and he [Seán's father] wouldn't drive me up to the Curragh, so I went out and I hitched a lift and I walked across the Curragh in at least six or nine inches of snow and enlisted that night. They sent me then to Renmore and then when the cadets came up in November of that year, I got it then ... I just got a few bits together and went out the road and hitched. They dropped me at the plains of the Curragh and I had to go over to the lights about a half a mile ... I was happy I think. I was on a mission!'.

In this clip, Colonel Norton outlines his decision to join the army and recalls always enjoying being interested in the Scouts, noting that it seemed a natural development to join the army. He also noted that he enjoyed leadership and recalls as a young boy marching in front of his brothers, who were bringing home a Christmas tree on their shoulders.

In this clip, Colonel Norton recalls Pearse Square in Dublin during World War II (The Emergency) and recalls the bombing of the North Strand. The bombing of the North Strand area which Seán is recalling, occurred on 31 May, 1941 when four German bombs fell in north Dublin. 28 people were killed in the North Strand during the bombing. Colonel Norton also recalls around the same time being in Sandymount, when he saw an American plane chasing a German plane in the sky over Sandymount.

In this clip, Colonel Norton remembers running against Ronnie Delaney (Olympic Gold Medallist in 1956 Melbourne Olympics) in the late 1940s where he was narrowly beaten. He notes that Delaney had been a cadet in the army for a period but that he left, due to the negative impact of marching on his legs.

In this clip, Colonel Norton discusses the Niemba Ambush (08 November 1960) and recalls both his own reaction and the reaction within the army. He speaks about Trooper Browne who was at the ambush. He also remembers Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson who was one of those killed in the Niemba Ambush and notes that the army learned a lot of military lessons from the ambush. Colonel Norton also recalls the subsequent negative use of the word 'Baluba' but states that when he was in the Congo later, he met Baluba tribesmen who he affirmed were good people.

In December 1961, Colonel Norton was one of three Platoon Commanders at the Battle of the Tunnel in which two Irish soldiers were killed, including one of the Platoon Commanders, Lieutenant Paddy O'Riordan. Norton was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his role in the battle. In this short piece of audio, Colonel Norton reflects on the lack of interest within the army towards the battle when he returned, which he characterised as ‘the sound of silence’.

In December 1961, Colonel Norton was one of three Platoon Commanders at the Battle of the Tunnel in which two Irish soldiers were killed, including one of the Platoon Commanders, Lieutenant Paddy O'Riordan. Norton was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his role in the battle. In this piece of audio, Colonel Norton recalls some of his memories of the battle.

In this piece of audio, Colonel Norton recalls the injury and death of Corporal Mick Fallon (08 December 1961), which occurred within feet of Seán. He remembers praying with a group of soldiers and the chaplain beside Fallon, when he died. He notes poignantly that Fallon died immediately after the men finished the Rosary. He notes that Mick Fallon's brother, JD was also in the Congo at the time his brother was killed.

In this piece of audio, Colonel Norton recalls the moment he realised that his comrade and friend Paddy O'Riordan had been killed during the battle.

In this piece of audio, Colonel Norton recalls the death of Sergeant Paddy Mulcahy, who was killed on the same tour.

In this piece of audio, Colonel Norton reveals that when he was on the railway track with his Platoon Lieutenant Paddy O'Riordan was saying to him that they were in the wrong positions and that they should swap. Shortly afterwards, Joe Fitzpatrick, the Company Commander swapped the positions of Lieutenant Paddy O'Riordan and Seán Norton's Platoons. Seán potently notes that he would have been killed if he had not swapped with Lieutenant Paddy O'Riordan.