An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | O n Thursday 28th February, at a ceremony at the Irish Embassy in London, Defence Forces Chief of Staff Vice Ad- miral Mark Mellett DSM, presented the UN Peacekeepers Medal and the Jadotville Medal to Sean Tiernan, a London based veteran who had served as a seventeen-and-a-half-year-old Cpl in the Congo. The ceremony was attended by Sean's wife Margaret, His Excel- lency Adrian O'Neill, the Irish Ambassador to the UK, Ruaidhri Dowl- ing First Secretary at the embassy, Sally Mulready and Margaret Geiger from the Irish Elderly Advice Network, three representatives from the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), and Sean's neighbours and friends from the Irish Centre in Camden. Sean Tiernan comes from Co Roscommon and in 1959 he cycled to Renmore to enlist in 1 Inf Bn. He deployed to the Congo in May 1961 with A Coy 35 Inf Bn; his Coy Comd was Comdt Pat Quinlan and his Pl Comd was Lt Tom Quinlan. A Coy with two armoured cars from the Armd Car Gp distinguished themselves in fighting off attacks from a much larger, heavily armed force from 13th to 18th September 1961 at the Siege of Jadotville. The attacking Katangese forces were supported by a Fouga Magister jet fighter and five of the Irish personnel were wounded during the fighting. A Coy was 120 kilometres from the rest of the battalion in Elisabethville and 200 kilometres from the other Irish unit, 1 lnf Gp at Kamina air base. As they were completely surround- ed in a very isolated vulnerable position and the route to Elisabeth- ville was in Katangese hands at Lufira Bridge, attempts to reinforce or extract the Coy were unsuccessful and a ceasefire was agreed. The Jadotville garrison were held prisoner until 24th October when they were released in a prisoner exchange. The Chief of Staff said that Sean was a man of courage, a soldier who was dedicated to the service of his country and he was de- lighted to present the medals on behalf of Paul Kehoe TD Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence. He paid tribute to the heroism and fortitude of those who fought at Jadotville under unprecedented and most hazardous conditions. Sean made a heartfelt address and he started by dedicating the medals to his Coy Comd, the late Col Pat Quinlan, "I owe my life to Comdt Pat Quinlan, he saved all of our lives at Jadot- ville." He visited Col Quinlan in Athlone two years before he passed away in 1997. Sean spoke with immense pride about his comrades at Jadotville, the outstand- ing leadership of the officers and NCOs and how so many have now passed away. He concluded by thanking the Chief of Staff, the Ambassador and his staff, the Personnel Support Services, IUNV A and all involved in arrang- ing the ceremony. Over a cup of tea Sean recalled the great sadness of all personnel in the battalion at the deaths of their comrades Tpr Eddie Gaffney, Tpr Pat Mullins and Cpl Michael Nolan who were killed in two separate ambushes in Elisabethville. He said he still thinks of the anguish of the Mullins family, as the remains of the young soldier were never found. He said that he will cherish the medals and he will hold the memories of his comrades in his heart forever. In September 2017 IUNVA organised a ceremony in Westport Co Mayo when personalised commemorative plaques were pre- sented to the survivors of the action at Jadotville and Sean was one of the recipients. He has been in contact with IUNVA through the Irish Elderly Advice Network in the UK. Michael Thompson served in the Cav Corps and the CIS Corps; he is a member of IUNVA Post 27 Portlaoise and the National Executive. VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS BY MICHAEL THOMPSON, IUNVA, POST 27 (PORTLAOISE) JADOTVILLE VETERAN HONOURED IN LONDON Comdt Pat Quinlan beside a Ford Armoured Car in Elisabethville. Photo: Military Archives Personnel of A Coy, 35 Inf Bn on parade at Custume Bks, Athlone before deployment to the Congo. Photo: Military Archives Congo Veteran Sean Tiernan with DF COS Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM The Irish Ambassador to the UK, Adrian O'Neill congratulating Congo Veteran Sean Tiernan, along with Defence Forces COS Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM. 35 Inf Bn personnel in captivity, Comdt Pat Quinlan is in the front wearing his beret. Photo: Military Archives

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