The new book ‘Jadotville: Benchmark for Bravery’ by Dan Harvey is being published later this month.

New book to be published on Jadotville soldiers' bravery

Adrian Cusack

Published: Fri 5 Jun 2026, 6:11 PM

As the 65th anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville approaches later this year, the story of the Irish troops involvement in the conflict in the Congo continues to resonate.

That's been underlined by the fact that a new book is to be published later this month about the siege and its aftermath.

Jadotville: Benchmark for Bravery by Dan Harvey is being published on June 25 by Menma Books, an independent book publisher based in West Cork.

A synopsis of the book states that it is "not only the story of a battle" but also covers "what happened after 156 Irish soldiers serving with the UN in the Congo held off an attack by a greatly superior force over five days in September 1961".

The summary of the Jadotville book adds: "For decades, the men of Jadotville were denied the full honour they deserved, their names clouded by institutional silence and the stigma of 'surrender'.

"This book follows the long, determined campaign by veterans, families, and supporters to force the truth into the open and to press authorities to recognise acts of bravery that met the benchmark for gallantry."

The book is currently available for pre-order from the Menma Books website - menmabooks.eu - priced €15.

September 13, 2026, will mark 65 years since the start of the Siege of Jadotville in which 156 Irish peacekeeping troops, many from Athlone and other parts of the Midlands, came under attack from Katangese forces.

The Irish soldiers were in captivity between September 17 and October 25, and their courage inspired a Netflix film, The Siege of Jadotville, which was released ten years ago.

Leo Quinlan, son of Commandant Pat Quinlan who led the men of 'A' Company during the conflict in the Congo, also discovered that a tribute to his father and his father's Jadotville comrades formed part of a graduation ritual at British Army course for senior officers last week.

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An inscription remembering Commander Paddy Quinlan and the Jadotville troops was written on a piano that was being ceremonially burned at a senior officers’ graduation event in the UK last week.

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The piano which bore the Jadotville inscription.

"At the Advanced Command and Staff Course (British Army) graduation they burned a piano (last Thurday). The traditional 'piano burn' celebrates a class graduation and honours fallen comrades," explained Leo.

Ahead of last week's 'piano burn', an inscription that remembered: "Cdr Paddy Quinlan and the men of Jadotville" was written on the side of the piano.

"It is significantly amazing that Jadotville is mentioned in this traditional piano burn event. The story of Jadotville must have arisen during the course, which is not surprising in a way," Leo added.

"I was recently contacted by the UAE asking for information on my father and Jadotville. This resulted in a paper being written on leadership, using my father as an example. This paper is being delivered at an international conference in Nice on June 6.

"Interest in the Jadotville story keeps growing," he said.