The SEIGE of JADOTVILLE on Netflix
This is a new movie which had a brief cinematic run in Ireland and became available October 7th on Netflix.
The movie is about the 1961 intervention of peacekeeper forces in the Congo, specifically about 155 Irishmen deployed as Company A. Regrettably Indian peacekeepers carried out a massacre at the Katanga radio station which provoked Moise Tshombe into calling DeGaulle. In hopes of keeping the French owned mines from being nationalized, DeGaulle provided ex-Legionairre mercs to lead Tshombe's army which was also joined by many Belgian Settlers. Eventually over 2,000 men attacked the Irish, supported by a Fouga Magister jet trainer outfitted to carry bombs. The Irish troops killed at least 300 and wounded a further 900.
It's a good movie, reasonably realistic. The best weapon the Irish had was a sniper with his No. 4 T. The unit used about 50/50 SLRs and No. 4s. Also Brens, Vickers, Swedish Ks and a couple of 60mm mortars. Despite being hung out to dry by incompetent UN and Irish military leadership, the Irish gave a good account of themselves. In the deteriorating situation, UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold was killed when his DC-6 went down; the film suggests he was shot down by a fighter of unknown origin. It's an interesting period of history, now largely forgotten.
The unit's last ditch weapon was big improvised Claymores using fired brass as the projectiles. Despite extreme heroism and perhaps unexpected professionalism, considering the total lack of prior combat experience, they never received proper credit even in Ireland. No medals, no mention. They fired away every round and were still accused of cowardice by the REMFs back in Eire.
In 2005 the "JADOTVILLE JACKS" were finally honored by the Irish government.
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