Mayo soldier’s family honoured in New Zealand

PROUD Elizabeth Hennelly (front centre) alongside members of her family and Honorary Consul General Niamh McMahon, Minister Jim Daly and Major Jim Maguire, New Zealand Army.

Michael Commins

THE family of a Mayo soldier who served with the Irish Army during the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo in 1961 were the recipients of a special medal presentation at a ceremony in New Zealand on St Patrick’s Weekend.
Gerald Hennelly from Seefin, Garrymore, was a young man serving with what was known as ‘A’ Company, 35th Battalion (UN Service), a contingent of 155 Irish UN troops under the command of Kerry native, Commandant Pat Quinlan. For six days, the surrounded Irish contingent gallantly held out against forces estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 by Katanga Gendarmerie troops.
With ammunition almost exhausted and food and water supplies running low, the Irish had little option but to accept an offer of surrender. They were held as hostages for four weeks but all were released unharmed. No Irish soldier lost their lives in the Battle of Jadotville although five sustained some injuries early on.
Gerald Hennelly, who died a few years ago, was son of the late Frank and Christina Hennelly of Seefin. His brother Noel, who resides in the family home place, was a young lad in the local National School at the time.
“My parents shared the usual anxiety that all parents do when family members are serving abroad with the army. There was hardly any means of communication at the time except the odd letter now and again. We knew nothing about the Congo except that it was in Africa. I am sure they were greatly relieved when they heard he was safe along with the rest of that group of Irish soldiers,” says Noel.
A commemorative stone recognising the soldiers of ‘A’ Company was erected on the grounds of Custume Barracks in Athlone in 2005. A commissioned portrait of Comdt Quinlan was installed in the Congo Room of the Irish Defence Forces’ UN School.
In October 2016, a plaque commemorating Comdt Quinlan was unveiled in Kerry by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Mr Kenny decided that the state should honour the soldiers of Jadotville or their next of kin and they were presented with special medals in Athlone on December 2, 2017.
All of Gerald’s family now live in New Zealand but none were able to travel to Athlone for the medal presentation last December.
The Honorary Consul General of Ireland in New Zealand, Niamh McMahon, hosted a function in Auckland to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in New Zealand and the guest of honour was Jim Daly TD, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People.
During the reception, Minister Daly presided at a very special medal presentation to the family of Gerald Hennelly in recognition of his service of the ‘A’ Company, 35th Battalion that served in the Congo in 1961. The Minister presented his wife Elizabeth with the Jadotville Medal and he was assisted in the presentation by Major Jim Maguire representing the New Zealand Defence Force. Jim is a former member of the Irish Army.
It was a special and emotional night for the Hennelly family and the conclusion of the presentation of medals to all those associated with the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo in 1961.
The late Gerald was a brother of Noel Hennelly (Seefin), Michael (Bradford, England), Celia Coakley (Westside, Galway) and Freda Rushe (Oranmore).
Thanks to Oliver Lee, a native of Kilkerrin, Co Galway, and a well know radio broadcaster in New Zealand, for his help with this story. Oliver, who is also involved in publishing, has resided in New Zealand since 1989 and is a regular visitor to his native Co Galway.