155 Irish soldiers versus thousands of Katangese and their mercenaries. Sounds like a losing battle, right? You're correct - but what if the Irish had some whiskey...? "The siege of Jadotville was an engagement during the Congo Crisis in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Battalion (UN service) of the Irish Army ONUC contingent was attacked by Katangese Gendarmerie troops loyal to the Katangese Prime Minister Moïse Tshombe. The lightly armed Irish soldiers, besieged in Jadotville (modern Likasi), resisted Katangese assaults for five days as a relief force of Irish, Indian and Swedish troops unsuccessfully attempted to reach the Irish force.
The outnumbered Irish company was eventually forced to surrender after ammunition and supplies were exhausted, but not before inflicting heavy casualties on the Katangese and their mercenaries. They were held as prisoners of war for approximately one month, with no loss of life."
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