|
Post by andybrennan on Jun 14, 2010 21:18:02 GMT
Thanks Maura your a star
Andy
|
|
|
Post by andybrennan on Jun 14, 2010 21:24:59 GMT
Joey,
How goes the exams, have you finished yet?.
Andy
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jun 30, 2010 6:55:12 GMT
Heroes of the Congo get Army recall 50 years on
AN old photograph shows them boarding the plane in their thick 'bullswool' uniforms and hob-nailed boots, bound for the tropical jungles of the Congo.
These Irish troops were the original 'pathfinders', the pioneers who started off what would become a long and proud tradition of the Irish peace-keeping missions.
With no idea what to expect, many of them were boys of 17 and 18 who had never even been to Dublin before.
All they had in their kit bags was an apple, an orange, a banana and two cheese sandwiches for an epic, 23-hour journey into the heart of Africa.
Notoriously ill-equipped, the Irish troops arrived in the tropical heat and 80pc humidity, their woollen, high-necked tunics turning to sandpaper.
"They may as well have been going to the moon as to where they ended up," remarked one young trooper yesterday at the Curragh camp.
Next month, a ceremony will take place marking the 50th anniversary of the deployment of Irish troops to the Congo in the Army's first ever international peacekeeping mission.
The Irish were among UN troops sent in when trouble flared up over the attempted secession of the Belgian-owned, diamond-rich province of Katanga to independent Congo in 1960. Congolese soldiers mutinied and the Belgians sent in troops to bolster Katanga. Atrocities followed.
When the Irish troops arrived to keep the peace, they found themselves up against tribesmen with bows and arrows and paramilitary forces sporting the most up-to-date military equipment, as well as white mercenaries, some of whom -- bizarrely -- were from Wexford.
In all, 6,000 Irish troops served in the war-stricken region from 1960-64, with 26 losing their lives.
Massacred
Nine died when they were massacred by Baluba tribesmen in the notorious Niemba ambush. It remains the single biggest loss of life suffered by the Defence Forces.
"I was just 17 and when you're that young you don't think of being afraid," remembered Private John O'Reilly (66), who served six months.
As well as the Baluba tribes, other perils faced by the troops included malaria -- many of their colleagues still suffer from it today -- and deadly snakes.
On arriving in the Congo in 1963, Private Michael Carroll was greeted by a Congolese man with the words: "Conas ata tu?"
The budding Gaelgeoir had worked as a mechanic for the Irish Cavalry Corps, who had taught him the 'cupla focal'.
"Conditions were very rough," said Private Fintan Morrissey (70), who was among the first of the Irish troops to arrive.
"I was doing a lot of moving around on patrol, sleeping in tents and in evacuated houses -- if we could get them."
Recalling encounters with members of a pygmy tribe, he said: "I used to give them chocolate, I thought they were schoolkids."
Quickly realising that the province of Katanga was at least three times the size of Ireland, he admitted that at times the Irish troops felt overwhelmed by the size of their task.
"But we enjoyed it. They were amazing times," he said.
The 50th anniversary of the Congo deployment will take place on Friday, July 23 at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Co Dublin.
Attendance is by invitation only, which Congo veterans may access via the retirement associations or directly from the Defence Forces headquarters.
- Nicola Anderson
Irish Independent
|
|
|
Post by annemcnamara on Jun 30, 2010 19:13:19 GMT
Hi Matt, thanks for the lovely story, heroes of the Congo. I remember all the sadness and hype, and mam God rest her working round the clock sewing on badges, stars and stripes and the lads so grateful to have their kit done properly and ready for their unknown journey. Regards, Anne.
|
|
|
Post by kathyo on Jul 1, 2010 10:29:28 GMT
hi mat what a lovely story i remember when the first batch of solders left for the congo most of the kid's from the camp waved them off from MCdonagh bks we were all so excited. my father i think wanted to go but my mother did not want him to. she said she did not want him to be killed with a bow and arrow and then eaten afterwards. i remember was it 11 solders were killed everybody was in a state of shock for day's was their one survivor who pretened to be dead it was such a long time ago i might be wrong take care matt and keep safe all the best kathyo
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jul 4, 2010 17:20:05 GMT
Hi All The Army Printing Press have been in contact with me in the last few days and sent me the following photographs of Irish Troops in the Congo who were taken prisoner there during hostilities. They are putting together a booklet for the 50th Anniversary and were hoping somebody will recognize a face or two in the pictures and if anybody recognizes or know the location. Can you please let me know as they are going to press soon. All the best. Matt
|
|
|
Post by joemurray on Jul 4, 2010 21:27:10 GMT
Hope you get some names for the happiest bunch of prisoners I've ever seen.Great photo
|
|
|
Post by congojoemallon on Jul 11, 2010 19:27:11 GMT
i am sure the guy holding the end of the pennant is big dan o driscoll RIP
|
|
|
Post by congojoemallon on Jul 11, 2010 19:36:08 GMT
AND GUY TO HIS RIGHT I AM SURE WAS THE RED DOYLE
|
|
|
Post by kellquinn on Jul 11, 2010 22:52:11 GMT
Is that Tommy O Neill in the white shorts? JKelly
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jul 23, 2010 12:39:39 GMT
The 50th anniversary of the deployment of Irish troops to Congo is being marked at a ceremony at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel.
Congo was the first major involvement of the Defence Forces with the UN and 26 Irish soldiers lost their lives during the four-year mission.
AdvertisementAbout 1,000 veterans and their families are attending today's ceremonies.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Defence Minister Tony Killeen and Chief of Staff Lt Gen Sean McCann paid tribute to the bravery of the Congo peacekeepers at today's commemoration.
The ceremony included a memorial service conducted by the Head Chaplain to the Defence Forces, Monsignor Eoin Thynne.
He said the ceremony is in memory of those remarkable men who began the epic journey of peacekeeping. He praised their sense of adventure, tenacity and bravery.
Mr Cowen unveiled a commemorative plaque. Current members of the Defence Forces carried out a parachute display, military equipment is on show, and a commemorative photo book will be launched.
Lt Gen McCann said those who served in Congo were the true pioneers of Irish peacekeeping.
He said their sacrifice, courage and dedication began a long and proud tradition of commitment to international peace that continues in the Defence Forces to this day.
More than 6,000 Irish soldiers served in Congo between 1960 and 1964.
It was the first armed Irish peacekeeping mission, most of the men had never been abroad before, and they were ill-equipped for the conditions making it a difficult and traumatic operation.
In November 1960 just four months after arriving, nine members on an 11-man Irish patrol were killed by Baluba tribesmen in the Niemba ambush.
Nearly 1,400 Irishmen were in Congo at one time during the early months of the mission.
An Irish officer, Lt Gen Sean McKeown, served as the overall UN military commander from January 1961 to March the following year.
|
|
|
Post by kathyo on Jul 23, 2010 13:58:03 GMT
hi matt im glad to see you are all right and looking well we all worry about you im so pleasd you will be home soon and back with youre lovely wife and children take care matt all the best kathyo
|
|
|
Post by topcat31285 on Aug 3, 2010 13:52:49 GMT
[/img] This is a picture of my Grandfather who served in the Congo 32Nd infantry Battalion, A company,
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Aug 3, 2010 16:18:10 GMT
Hi Topcat
Sent the photograph to me at matt@curragh.info and I will put it up on the dite for you.
Matt
|
|
|
Post by kellquinn on Aug 3, 2010 22:48:48 GMT
Hi Matt did you get the photo of the Curragh Picture House? if not I will send it on again. Regards JKelly
|
|