{"product_id":"siege-at-jadotville-the-irish-armys-forgotten-battle","title":"Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army's Forgotten Battle","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Formatted\"\u003eThe Irish soldier has never been a stranger to fighting the enemy with the odds stacked against him. The notion of charging into adversity has been a cherished part of Ireland’s military history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn September 1961 another chapter should have been written into the annals, but it is a tale that lay shrouded in dust for years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe men of A Company, 35th Irish Infantry Battalion, arrived in the Congo as a UN contingent to help keep the peace. For many it would be their first trip outside their native shores. Some of the troops were teenage boys, their army-issue hobnailed boots still unbroken. They had never heard a shot fired in anger. Others were experienced professional soldiers, but were still not prepared for the action that was to take place.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLed by Commandant Pat Quinlan, A Company found themselves tasked with protecting the European population at Jadotville, a small mining town in the southern Congolese province of Katanga. It fell to A Company to try and protect people who later turned on them. On 13 September 1961 the bright morning air of Jadotville was shattered by the sound of automatic gunfire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Readers Paradice Book Shop Wexford","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49897011773787,"sku":"","price":4.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0538\/7105\/0923\/files\/5_948c2998-ca35-495e-a04f-673e47c8ed75.jpg?v=1736937670","url":"https:\/\/readersparadise.pro\/products\/siege-at-jadotville-the-irish-armys-forgotten-battle","provider":"ReadersParadise","version":"1.0","type":"link"}