Jadotville Ceremony Custume Barracks, Athlone
Commemorative monument to the soldiers who fought at Jadotville. The monument was unveiled by Mr. Willie O’Dea, Minister for Defence on 19th November 2005.
The inscription in front of the Jadotville memorial plaque (not shown in picture) reads as follows:
In honour of the Officers, NCOs and men of ‘A’ Company 35 Infantry Battalion United Nations Force in Congo (ONUC) who had the misfortune to suffer so much at Jadotville in the province of Katanga in September 1961. ‘A’ Company took responsibility for the UN Post at Jadotville on the 3rd of September. On the 9th of September a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September the Company came under attack. Over the coming days until the 17th September they endured almost continuous attacks from ground and air. Despite determined leadership courageous resistance and the sustained efforts of 35th Infantry Battalion HQ to provide assistance, ‘A’ Company was taken into captivity on the 17th September. By this time ‘A’ Company had no water or food and several men had been wounded. ‘A’ Company remained in captivity until finally released on 25th October 1961.