Monument to Jadotville families unveiled at Custume Barracks

Just 13 when his brother Charles was on peacekeeping duty in the Congo, Athlone’s Paul Cooley vividly remembers his mother crying by the fire every night after news of their capture emerged following the Siege of Jadotville.

He and his brother were among those who gathered outside in bitterly cold conditions in Custume Barracks in December, for a ceremony to unveil a monument dedicated to the families of ‘A’ Company 35th Infantry Battalion by Minister Simon Coveney.

Undoubtedly, the sub-zero weather played some part in a smaller crowd than usual (there were several empty tents at the ceremony) but some families opted not to attend, unhappy with the lack of consultation with families on the monument.

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell, who stayed away, said in a statement that many of those invited to the ceremony decided not to go and were furious that the decision to go ahead with the stone plaque was made without consulting soldiers’ families.

Some 156 Irish peacekeeping troops, many from Mullingar , Athlone and other parts of the midlands, came under attack during the conflict in the Congo in September of 1961. A large force of Katangese Gendarmerie had surrounded the men of ‘A’ Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, on September 9, 1961. They endured almost continuous attack from September 13 to 17. They were taken into captivity on September 17 and were finally released on October 25, 1961.

In July of last year, the independent review group set up to re-examine whether medals for gallantry and distinguished service should be awarded to soldiers who served at the Battle of Jadotville opted only to recommend one medal award. It concluded that there was a prima facie case for a posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Medal to Comdt Pat Quinlan, who commanded ‘A’ Company of the 35 Infantry Battalion in the Congo. It did not recommend that medals should be considered for the 33 other Jadotville personnel who had been recommended for medals for gallantry or distinguished service in the 1960s but had not been awarded them.

There were a number of other recommendations in their report, including that the role of parents, wives, and families living in Mullingar, Athlone, Galway and elsewhere should be honoured with a plaque in Custume Barracks.

Naturally, many of those present at the unveiling were happy it was happening, saying it was further recognition of what the Jadotville soldiers and their families went through.

Paul Cooley gave a revealing personal insight into what his family endured as they waited for news of Pte Charles Cooley and his colleagues over six decades ago. “When they heard they were captured, they heard nothing for weeks and weeks. We had no phone or anything at that time,” Paul said.

“I remember my mother sitting in front of the fire crying every night. I was 13, it was traumatic. There was no communication. It was on a newspaper that my mother read that they were captured,” and to make matters worse, one paper reported mass casualties among the soldiers.

In late October, Paul recalls going to the shop at around 9pm and hearing a “clip clop” sound coming up the street. He ran into the house to see Charlie and was utterly elated. “He was home, and we didn’t even know he had got released.”

Long-time Jadotville campaigner John Gorman was “absolutely over the moon and thrilled” with the new monument because when you talk about Jadotville veterans you have to talk about their families, he said.

“The families suffered as much as we did probably. At least we knew we were alive; they didn’t know whether we were dead or alive. They went through a hard time,” said John. On the issue of those who decided not to attend, he stated that “some people are never happy”.

Another Jadotville veteran, Joseph O’Kane from Tang, was less enthusiastic about the ceremony: “I’m waiting 61 years for a DSM (distinguished service) medal and that’s what I want.”

Minister Coveney, who said he was honoured to unveil the monument, noted that the experiences at Jadotville and the aftermath had a tangible and lasting effect on those returning home, and on their families.

“The monument will stand here in Custume Barracks as a perpetual acknowledgement and recognition of the roles of the families, including all of you who have gathered here today,” he said, adding that it is only right that it was happening at the spiritual home of ‘A’ Company in Athlone. It was there too, the minister said, that was the site for the memorial plaque to the men of ‘A’ Company, unveiled in 2005, and the presentation of An Bonn Jadotville, the Jadotville medal, awarded to the veterans and their families in 2017.

Thanking all of the families who contributed to the review process and added to the Jadotville story, the minister said: “Many men returned with traumatic memories that would stay with them and their families. And it was their parents, wives and families who provided comfort to their returning fathers, husbands, sons, brothers who were suffering. Their voices can be clearly heard in the report of the review group if you take the time to read it.”

He said the families made such a telling impression on the review group that the recommendation was included to honour family members with a plaque, which directly led to this ceremony.

Earlier, Minister Coveney inspected an honour guard prior to the unveiling of the stone monument which bears the following inscription: ‘Honouring the unwavering support of the families of personnel of A Company 35 Infantry Battalion ONUC.’

He also laid a wreath at the site and the roll of honour was read by MC Lt David Graham before the minister’s address.