The Siege of Jadotville in September 1961 occurred during the First Katanga War Tan Siew Soo, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)

JADOTVILLE located 140 km north west of Elisabethville was an important mining town. Did you know Shinkolobwe mine in Jadotville extracted the uranium for America to produce the Atomic bombs that destroyed Nagasaki and Hiroshima?

The full Movie can be watched on Netflix

A Coy, 35(Irish) Battalion was sent to Jadotville before Fighting broke out. During the Fighting they fought gallantly and resisted the Katangese and mercenaries forces for 6 days before ammunition and supply ran out and surrendered. Miraculously they suffered zero KIA but claimed they killed over one hundred Katangese. In the DVD you would be inclined to believe that.

The cover of the DVD is misleading. There were no Tanks but the Katangese possessed at that time two Fouga Magister trainer jets armed with machine guns that caused great havoc to the UN. The Malayan participation during this First Fighting was No 3 Troop A Squadron 2 Reece commanded by Lt Abdul Rahman bin Dato Hussein( uncle of MO1!!). Only his Troop managed to land before the airport was closed.

The 2nd Katanga War occurred on 05 December 1961. This time the UN got a strong Air Force: Indian Canberas, Swedish Saabs and Ethopians Sabres. The fighting raged on until 19 December. The MSF involvement was A Squadron 2 Reece. The Squadron conduct during the Fighting was exemplary as opposed to indiscriminate shooting and bombings by other UN troops. Despite losing over 200 soldiers killed by UN, President Tshombe was full of praise for A Squadron 2 Reece in their conduct during the Fighting. Before the Squadron returned home, Tshombe gave a farewell cocktail party to the officers of A Squadron at his Palace.

Truly Incredible! Another example of how we brought great honour to King and Country. An uneasy truce prevailed after the Second Fighting.It was against this backdrop that I as part of C Squadron 2 Reece arrived in Elisabethville in June 1962. MY interest in Jadotville was my Troop affiliation to 4th Bn Madras Regiment. MY Troop was a part of the Indian Battle Group given the mission to capture Jadotville.

Despite all our training for war, C Squadron 2 Reece was denied the excitement of the forthcoming fighting. One month before hostilities broke out, we were extracted out to Albertville. During the farewell call on the GOC Katanga Command, Major Asna learnt that our move was at the request of our Mission in New York.

On 01 January 1963 the Madras Regiment and Rajputana Rifles entered Jadotville to cheering welcome by the locals. The Indian suffered 4 KIA and 19'WIA. On 15 January, Tshombe announced to the world the end of Katanga secession.

Tan Siew Soo, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)

Armour.