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carlow will do me.
I saw someone about a special showing somewhere in Kildare
Shaqra
Barbara Geraghty‎
Irish Defence Forces - Old Photographs - 1922 to 2000
Yesterday at 4:06pm ·
The Siege of Jadotville will be screened for I night only on Thursday 6 October at 8pm in the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge.
Thanks to Mary Orford who inquired if the Riverbank would screen it
"The nation that will insist on drawing a broad line of demarcation between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to find its fighting done by fools and its thinking done by cowards."
― Thucydides
Rittmeister
Originally posted by Shaqra View Post
Isn't that the night it goes up on Netflix?
Soldiers to be recognised for Jadotville bravery
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe will today present military citations to soldiers from the midlands who fought in the siege of Jadotville in the Congo in 1961 and the next of kin of those who were on duty with the battalion.
Over 60 former soldiers and their families will attend a ceremony in Custume Barracks in Athlone.
The event will formally recognise the bravery of the soldiers 55 years after they were attacked while on UN duty in the region.
On 9 September 1961 soldiers from Athlone, Mullingar and Finner were on duty with the A Company of the 35th Infantry Battalion in the Congo when they came under fire at their UN post at Jadotville.
The unit endured continuous attacks from ground and air after they were surrounded by a large force supporting the breakaway province of Katanga.
For over 50 years the soldiers in Jadotville sought recognition for their heroic defence in an isolated outpost and today Mr Kehoe will present a presidential unit citation to the survivors and their families.
Wreaths will also be laid for deceased members of the unit.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0917/817187-jadotville/
Is this citation recognised in DFRs?
Just about to ask that! I thought PUCs were an American thing.
Soldiers recognised for Jadotville bravery
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe has presented military citations to soldiers from the midlands who fought in the siege of Jadotville in the Congo in 1961 and the next of kin of those who were on duty with the battalion.
Over 60 former soldiers and their families attended the ceremony in Custume Barracks in Athlone.
The event was organised to formally recognise the bravery of the soldiers 55 years after they were attacked while on UN duty in the region.
Veterans of the siege, who were held in captivity after the attacks, said the presentation was long overdue.
160 Irish soldiers were attacked by 3,000 enemy troops yet less than ten were injured in the siege.
Speaking at the event, Mr Kehoe said: "I am very pleased to present this unit citation which recognises the bravery and courage of A Company during the siege of Jadotville whilst cut-off from support and reinforcements.
"A total of 6,000 Irish soldiers served in the Congo from 1960 until 1964 and I want to take the opportunity to recall the contribution of all who served in the various Irish contingents over the course of this long mission," added Mr Kehoe.
Space Lord of Terra
Is this the 2nd unit citation? was the LE Cliona one a unit citation also?
"He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
"No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."
Bravo20
Originally posted by morpheus View Post
No, scrolls of commendation were issued to 4 crew members of the LE Cliona. The whole ship's crew did not get a citation
Lt Colonel
Too bad it took a bloody film for it to happen
I knew a simple soldier boy.....
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.
In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
And no one spoke of him again.
You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.
It was in motion long before the Film was being made, but in doing so when the Film is being released, will put their brave actions to the forefront of the public eye, for something that otherwise would only be an "and also" at the end of a news bulletin.
Just been to the film - well worth a Netflix subscription if you didn't see it. Lots of minor errors for the anoraks but a great film and gripping.
Originally posted by na grohmití View Post
Don't get me wrong, it's great they're getting their recognition and it's great that it was in motion before the film as you say, but there's no doubt that the actions of the troops was ignored.
Just remember folks - the service of all of the Defence Forces has effectively been ignored by the Public for decades. It is only in the very recent past that any sort of attention has been paid to our service. Nobody wanted to know about the Leb, the Golan or indeed the Sinai. And God forbid you should mention years of ATCP ! There are parts of Dublin, let alone the border towns, where mentioning you'd done guard duty in Portlaoise would get you beaten to a pulp.
It is fantastic that the troops in Jadotville and the fire team on the Cliona are being honoured. It is long overdue. But what about "the Tunnel", At Tiri , the SAR missions during the Fastnet disaster and many, many other firefights and acts of heroism over the years ?
Certainly for most of my lifetime the DF were ignored at best and villified at worst - most often joked about. If this film can start to redress the balance then great but lets not turn it into an internal blaming exercise. Blaming the DF or "Govt" is easy - the hard part to acknowledge is that it is our own population, who we have sworn to protect , who ignored us.
The men of A Company are rightly being honoured and it is fantastic to see it being done. But let's not forget all those who served - if not honoured then at least acknowledged.
But ever has it been thus - as Kipling wrote:
"O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,"