Jadotville horrors recalled as overseas missions honoured

Some of the soldiers and their families who had served in Congo in 1961 and Cyprus in 1967 last week recalled their overseas missions at a ceremony in Custume Barracks where the pennants (unit designation flags) were unveiled in the NCO's Mess. Family members of the late Sgt Major John Prendergast from Iona Park were present on the day and recalled his trip to the Congo in 1961. His wife Bridie said of her late husband: "He was supposed to be a hero." She said they didn't get much news from him during his trip to Congo, during which the company was involved in The Siege of Jadotville, and said it was a tough time as they didn't know what was going on. She said she was glad to be attending the ceremony. His daughter Eileen Longworth said it was nice to remember her father and those who had served alongside him during the ceremony. She said her father hadn't spoken much about the mission over the years, but said he would have been proud to see the company honoured in such a manner. Described by many present as the hero who had saved all of their lives, John Monaghan from Assumption Road said he was proud to be there for the ceremony. Speaking about Jadotville, he said: "It was a very tough ordeal. We went to Jadotville and then the trouble started on September 13 and lasted for five or six days, there was no notification or warning given." Mr Monaghan was, in fact, the man who alerted the company to, and held off, the initial attack by Kantaganese rebels, allowing them time to get into the trenches. He said: "Mass was going on for the company and I was on my way from the wash house when shots were fired. I was the first man to fire a machine gun. That lasted for five or six days and then we were prisoners of war." He said the soldiers were worried during the siege and said agreements were made and then broken by the enemy. Mr Monaghan paid tribute to officers Pat Quinlan, Noel Carey, Tom Quinlan and Liam Donnelly. And while many said that Mr Monaghan's actions saved them all by holding off the initial attack, one man last week told of how Mr Monaghan saved his life a second time. Jimmy Taheny from Boyle in Roscommon said: "Only for John Monaghan I wouldn't be here. My trench was struck with an aerial bomb, I was buried and he dug me out."He said the whole thing was an awful experience and the soldiers didn't know what was happening. "Communications were bad, if you had communications you'd at least understand what was happening," he said. Speaking about meeting up with the members of A Company again, Mr Taheny said: "It's very lonesome now when you see people that you kicked ball with and fought with and you'd hardly know them. When you come out of the war everyone is your brother." The family of Peter Callaghan was also present on the day and his wife Brigid explained that the first she heard about the siege was from reporters. She said a few reporters came down from Dublin and called to their street as they had heard some of soldiers were from there. She said they didn't hear much news and were depending on others to find out what happened. She added that she went to the Friary many times to have Masses said. Possibly the best Christmas present the family received was the safe return of Peter three days before Christmas in 1961, and Brigid explained even then she had no news of his arrival until he was dropped off at the house. "We didn't even know he was coming," she said. The family of Denis Westman, who served in Cyprus, were also present at the ceremony and said he served overseas about eight times and it was just a fact of life for them. They explained it was something you just got used to. John Gorman, who spearheaded the initial campaign to have the soldiers of Jadotville recognised, said last week: "It is another victory for Pat Quinlan and his company and all the deceased members of A Company."