SEIGE OF JADOTVILLE - UN

Saw this film some years ago. It is a true story about an Irish unit sent to the Congo in the early 60's who were hung out to dry not only by their fellow country men, but also the UN. Watched it again last night, brilliant movie for those that like nostalgic weapos like the 4T/Bren and Auto SLR!

The detail in weaponry and the handling of such varied weapons is outstanding.
Highly recommended, when you consider it took over 50 years before these lads were honoured with medals the bravery was outstanding against overwhelming odds.

Highly recommended viewing guys. This link is when they were old men and given their rightful medal tally:

Irish Soldiers from Siege of Jadotville awarded, 2017 - YouTube

The Siege of Jadotville | Netflix Official Site

Yes, I've seen it a number of times. Guess it's time to watch it again.

It was time!

Such brave lads, under so so much pressure from all angles to placate Politicians. A lot went on in the Congo in the 60's, with the assasination of the UN Secretary General and his plane to 2000 attacking this far flung outpost for what??
Badly treated by their own General, and like so many British Army conflicts and contacts like Mirbat, the lads were NEVER there........what a load of crap!!
Those lads should have been accreditted with what they did whilst at Jodotville.........very brave actions, should have been rewarded with the right medals IMHO!
True story with the actual place and some of the soldiers that fought there as Military advisors!

Thanks for posting the clip Gil. Pleased to see that the lads got some recognition finally!
I've seen the movie a couple of times; it is a great movie. A realistic version of events.

Fine soldiers who kept faith with each other and did what had to be done.

Great film, I watched it again myself whist sat at home convalescing from surgery last week.

Brave guys and treated absolutely appallingly by the Irish government.

I'm glad the film raised their story as many of us would never have known what they accomplished.

The only thing that was a little off was the Sniper T with only a post reticule and the S/A shot by the bren gunner of the man in the white suit everything apart from those 2 minor things made a thoroughly good movie along side We were Soldiers and Danger Close all good flicks.

Hope your getting better Clarky..:thup:

The Bren single shot incident was true, as was the Huey crash after being shot down, it was simply one hell of an engagement, and not to lose anybody was unbelievable with the amount of lead poured down on them by 2,000 shooters and mortars and heavy MMG'S!!! The Bren used because of the actual distance, when one has to remember that the 4T was only ever intended for a kill ratio of 400 yards, the bren took the shot at over 800 metres, lucky strike but it took the money man of those mercenaries out!

My Father was in the Irish Army during the 1950's; he loved shooting the Bren on the 600 yard range at the Curragh.
I had wondered about that scene; where the sniper swaps the T for the Bren. I thought it was a "movie moment" . It's good to hear that it's actually part of the history.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to shoot a Bren earlier this year; although it had been reduced to single shot function. (manually operate the bolt to load from the magazine)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

The only thing that was a little off was the Sniper T with only a post reticule and the S/A shot by the bren gunner of the man in the white suit everything apart from those 2 minor things made a thoroughly good movie along side We were Soldiers and Danger Close all good flicks.

Hope your getting better Clarky..:thup:

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Cheers Ron, much better thanks mate.....

I thought Danger Close was an excellent film...

Do we know how many veterans have passed away in the 50 years before the medal was issued?

I just watched it again it was a miracle that none of those brave lads perished in what was basically a hang you out to dry situation and so great to see that for at least some of the surviving Irish soldiers of that siege received a just and well deserved honours.
I hope it mends some of the old wounds they would have endured over the years.

A little known fact about being hung out to dry in WWII Winston Churchill knew that they had cracked the German Naval Enigma (It used 4 rotors instead of the armies 3 rotors).
So to keep the illusion that the code was secure some convoys were left to the mercy of the U-Boat Wolf Packs with the desired result with being ships sunk.
As had the convoys suddenly disappeared from the prowling U-boats then the Germans would have twigged the code was broken and changed the Enigma machines, it would have taken time but it would have put the allies on the back foot.
I wonder how they all slept knowing that in certain instances those in the merchant ships were going to their deaths to keep the illusion going we will never know the full truth but it goes to show how people get hung out to dry.

I think the merchant men on the Atlantic run must be some of the bravest of all! At least on a warship you can fight back.

I do wonder if the Kriegsmarine were suspicious that the Enigma had been cracked because there is no other explanation to converting to the 4 rotor Enigma machine that they did mid-war. I do think that the allies were "pushing it a bit" with the amount of intelligence that was being used in the Atlantic war that came from Enigma intercepts.

Problem is one can't always use the intelligence one has, without revealing the source, and this can happen in many conflicts. Sometimes the enemy has to be allowed to do whatever they are planning to do in order to protect one's source.

From my collection a good read if your into the secret side of things.