Heroes of Jadotville: The Soldiers' Story

By Rose Doyle

In this new and updated edition of Heroes of Jadotville: The Soldiers’ Story, Rose Doyle uses interviews, reports, journals and letters to bring answers and clarity to an episode long ignored.

In 1961, during the United Nations intervention in the Katangan conflict in the Congo, central Africa, a company of Irish peacekeeping troops was forced to surrender to soldiers loyal to Katanga’s prime minister, Moise Tshombe. They were isolated, without water, supplies or support when they were attacked and forced to defend themselves in a brutal and bloody five- day battle. Shamefully neglected by their superiors, they were portrayed as cowards upon their return home. In this new and updated edition of Heroes of Jadotville: The Soldiers’ Story, Rose Doyle uses interviews, reports, journals and letters to bring answers and clarity to an episode long ignored. She blows the lid on the real story of what happened in Africa, exposing how Irish peacekeeping soldiers became pawns in an international struggle for control of Katanga and its mineral wealth. Doyle seeks to grant these soldiers the recognition their bravery deserves. This is their story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Island Books
• Release date: Feb 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781848404892

Reviews for Heroes of Jadotville

[thegeneral_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an excellent book recounting an utterly courageous and little recognised defence by Irish troops under the UN banner against massive odds. The Irish lost no-one dead in the Jadotville encounter yet encountered massive casulaties on the Katangan forces. Despite this and being forced to surrender despite no other alternative they were treated dishonourably by the Irish government upon their return home and the UN.