An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir October 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 26 | A small group of veterans collaborated on a song to honour the members of 'A' Coy, 35th Inf bn, oNUC, who fought at the Siege of Jadotville, Congo in 1961. their song No White Feathers now has over 5,000 youtube hits in six months! https://youtu.be/atFcJ53bkQ4 Joey Bracken (former 5 Inf Bn) was playing in a bar in the Canaries one night and as there were some DF veterans in the audience he sang a song he had written about the 'Justice for Smallhorne and Barrett' campaign. After the gig an Englishman approached Joey and told him that his uncle, John Foley, had fought at the Siege of Jadotville. A very interesting conversation followed and the man said he would send Joey a copy of his uncle's book, No White Feathers, about his experiences at Jadotville. As promised, a signed copy of the book arrived a few weeks later. Joey says: "I couldn't put it down. It was a fantastic story of resilience and modest bravery and it got me thinking about what these men had to endure and not to receive any credit for what they did, and then the indignity they had to put up with as a consequence." Joey started writing a song about the event. However, he wasn't happy with how it was progressing so he brought a couple of former comrades on board: "a great poet", 'Elvis' McDonagh, and "a tremendous musician and songwriter", Joe Gibson O'Hanlon (both 5 Inf Bn). Joey says: "I knew exactly what I wanted for the song but felt I was going about it the wrong way. I kinda half expected Joe would take over! And after much deliberation and direction, we came up with the song No White Feathers." Joey went over to Joe O'Hanlon in Spain and spent a couple of weeks recording vari- ous songs together including No White Feathers. "We were hoping that the song would coincide with the film about Jadotville and put the men's endeavours firmly into a positive spotlight," Joey told us. "I've since spoken to John Foley and he sincerely loved it, as did the other Congo veterans who heard it. I hope it bounces off the film and that the lads get the recognition they deserve. If that happens, we will be more than happy." The lads hope that veterans associations, like ONE or IUNVA, could do something with the song and use it in fundraising. John Foley has agreed to write the sleeve notes for the CD and fully endorse the song if needed. The two guys finished by saying: "This was a labour of love and was done to raise awareness of Jadotville and for no other reason." by SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD 'No White Feathers' - The Jadotville Song no white Feathers The year was nineteen-sixty-one when Ireland sent away her sons, To stop the genocide being done with bow and arrow spear and gun. Quinlan led his soldiers in and he vowed to bring them home again. So the countdown had begun for battle beneath the Congo sun. With massive odds to overcome, the siege of Jadotville had begun. The Irish soldiers dug in well. They sent a jet to give them hell. Make your rounds count, every one; use your bayonets when you're done. Round for round, shell for shell, three thousand men they did repel. So raise your glasses, everyone; tell the story to your sons. Tell them of the history made. There was no white feathers on parade. Six days after it had begun, with water, food and bullets done, The order came: "Lower your guns, lads, be proud of what you've done." But when to Ireland they returned, doors were closed and backs were turned. It's taken fifty years to tell of the bravery at Jadotville. So raise your glasses, everyone, and you can tell the story to your son. Tell them of the history made. There was no white feathers on parade. Members of 3 Platoon beside a UN helicopter in Jadotville, September 1961. Musicians and song writers Joe O'Hanlon and Joey Bracken, former members of 5 Inf Bn. No White Feather - a soldier's review of military life in the Irish Army & U.N. Service in Belgian Congo, including the Battle of Jadotville 1961, by Seán Ó Foghlú (John Foley) and published by Book Republic in 2011, ISBN: 978-1907221064.

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