June 2018 Vol. 14, Issue 1

The Canada Times Celebrating little known or forgotten stories of our history

Note from the Chair Military Chaplain What’s inside Siege of Jadotville Honouring a Chief New Board Member

Newsletter from The Jeanie Johnston Educational Foundation Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem 155, du Buisson, Pierrefonds, P.Q. H8Y 2Z5 Tel.: 514-341-7777 Email: [email protected] Note from the Chair The Walk to the Stone on Sunday, 27th May, 2018 was marked by the excellent turn out and the program Fr.William (Willy) Doyle SJ, MC. created by Victor Boyle and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians An Honour denied (A.O.H.) deserves first class credit. This is an event put together by the By Leo Delaney Leo Delaney A.O.H. alone. This organization has Father William kept the memories of this tragedy alive and in the hearts of Montrealers. For over Doyle was born in 100 years, the A.O.H. has been the Standard Bearer, Dalkey, Co Dublin reminding us of our responsibility to honor those on 3rd March, 1873, 6,000 souls buried in this Hallowed Ground, a burial ground which is respected across the world. the youngest of seven children. He Speakers representing the Montreal Monument Foundation noted the various steps that had occurred was ordained as a since the acquisition of the Graveyard by Hydro Jesuit in 1907. When Québec, through the offices of the previous Mayor war broke out in of Montreal, Denis Corderre, whose pledges and promises of cooperation and trust, proved again that 1914, he volunteered political trust is another name for distrust. The fact to serve as a Military that Hydro Québec has control over this historic site Chaplain at the front. of the graves of 6,000 souls who lost their lives to He was appointed the cholera and were buried in mass graves at the door of their hoped for promised land, has become to the 8th Royal blurred by platitudes due to the political expediency Irish Fusiliers, 16th of the times. Some speakers even referred to Hydro’s (Irish) Division, in munificence to the Irish, in their planning of the Fr. Willie Doyle SJ desecration of one of the world’s most revered burial November 1915. His grounds. World opinion is not impressed. I imagine first experience of battle was at Loos where he was caught in the German the naming of the Electrical substation “La substation poison gas attack on 26th April. He ministered to the soldiers in the midst of des Irlandais”, puts the Irish in the same category as the Metro station, Lionel Giroux, a somewhat “a the battle, displaying a total disregard for his own safety. He was mentioned controversial figure” in Quebec’s history? The Irish in dispatches but his Colonel’s recommendation for the Military Cross was negotiation team is doing admirable work given the not accepted because he had not been long enough at the front. He was hand that they were dealt, by ensuring that the land th granted them by Hydro is maximized and that the presented with the parchment of merit of the 49 Brigade. substation area is minimized and traffic and future use of the land will be utilized to the best advantage. In May 1916, he had a lucky escape: “I was standing in a trench, quite a The City is also providing technical assistance in long distance from the firing line, a spot almost as safe as Dalkey (his home studies to optimize the approach to the memorial. village) itself, talking to some of my men when we heard in the distance the We were pleased to see Her Honour, Valérie Plante attending an Irish event (Single term Mayoralty is scream of a shell...... none of us had calculated that this gentleman had made not in.) up his mind to drop into the trench itself, a couple of paces from where I The inclusion of the Trinitones choir to the program stood. What really took place in the next ten seconds I cannot say. I was added a new dimension and was enthusiastically conscious of a terrific explosion and the thud of falling stones and debris. received and their rendition of Brendan Behan’s I thought the drums of my ears were split by the crash, and I believe I was “Auld Triangle” brought back memories. knocked down by the concussion, but when I jumped to my feet I found that Less enthusiastic was the reception of the Mare o f the two men who had been standing at my left hand, the side the shell fell, Dublin’s lecture, which was insulting to many and poorly conceived. A native son from Kimmage, one were stretched on the ground dead, though I think I had time to give them of Dublin’s less salubrious neighbourhoods. absolution and anoint them. The poor fellow on my right was lying badly

In contrast, Chief Christine Zachary-Deom’s delivery wounded in the head; but I myself , though a bit stunned and dazed by the was delightful and spoken from the heart - a credit to suddenness of the whole thing, was absolutely untouched, though covered the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. with dirt and blood.” Doctor Jason King, representing the Great Famine Roadshow, was extremely satisfied with the response In August 1916, he took part in the fighting at Ginchy and Guillemont. His to the reminiscences of the many who participated by description of Leuze Wood is striking: “The first part of our journey lay sharing their family stories and memories associated through a narrow trench, the floor of which consisted of deep thick mud, with The Irish Famine Migration of 1847. These will be digitized on the great Famine Voices website. and the bodies of dead men trodden under foot. It was horrible beyond This is an Irish Heritage Trust initiative with description, but there was no help for it, and on the half-rotten corpses of the Irish National Famine Museum, Strokestown, our own brave men we marched in silence, everyone busy with his own Roscommon, which had already travelled from Boston, New York, New Haven, Philadelphia and thoughts...... Half an hour of this brought us out in the open into the middle Toronto, garnering tales of the past from Montrealers of the battlefield of some days previous. The wounded, ... had all been and First Nations People, Kahnawake, in English, removed, but the dead lay there stiff and stark with open staring eyes, just French and Mohawk. as they had fallen. Good God, such a sight! I had tried to prepare myself for The St. Patrick’s Square resident’s contingent was a welcome addition to the ceremony this year. Transportation was provided by the Jeanie Johnston . . . 2 . . . Educational Foundation. this, but all I had read or pictured gave me little idea of the reality. Some lay as if they were sleeping quietly, others had died in agony or had had the life crushed out of them by mortal fear, while the whole ground, every foot, was littered with heads or limbs, or pieces of torn human bodies. In the bottom of one hole lay a British and a German soldier, locked in a deadly embrace, neither had any weapon but they had fought on to the bitter end. Another couple seemed to have realised that the horrible struggle was none of their making, and that they were both children of the same God; they had died hand-in-hand. A third face caught my eye, a tall, strikingly handsome young German, not more, I should say, than eighteen. He lay there calm and peaceful, with a smile of happiness on his face, as if he had had a glimpse of Heaven before he died. Ah, if only his poor mother could have seen her boy it would have soothed the pain of her broken heart.” In December, 1916, he was transferred to 8th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He met his fellow Jesuit Father Frank Browne who was attached to the 2nd and 9th Dublins. His concern for his men shines through his letters and diaries. “I found the dying lad - he was not much more - so tightly jammed into a corner of the trench that it was almost impossible to get him out. Both legs were smashed, one in two or three places, so his chances of life were small, and there were other injuries as well. What a harrowing picture that scene would have made. A splendid young soldier, married only a month they told me, lying there, pale and motionless in the mud and water with the life crushed out of him by a cruel shell. The stretcher bearers hard at work binding up as well as they may, his broken limbs; round about a group of silent Tommies looking on and wondering when will their turn come. Peace for a moment seems to have taken possession of the battlefield, not a sound save the deep boom of some far-off gun and the stifled moans of the dying boy, while as if anxious to hide the scene, nature drops her soft mantle of snow on the living and dead alike.” He was awarded the Military Cross in January, 1917 for his courage in the Battle of the Somme. He took part in the attack on Wytschaete Ridge in June, 1917. Fr.Browne was transferred to the Irish Guards at the start of August which left Fr. Doyle to service four battalions by himself. He was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order at Wytschaete and the Victoria Cross for his bravery on the battlefield at Frezenberg; celebrating Mass and administering the Sacraments to dying and wounded soldiers, and dragging them to safety, in the heat of battle, without a thought for his own safety. Like his comrades, he was shot at, shelled, and gassed, narrowly missing being killed on numerous occasions, his only rest in the same rat-infested trenches. Despite his brother officers’ pleas, he refused to leave the Front, determined to be with his flock throughout this living hell. Although recommended to receive the Victoria Cross the highest honor in the field of battle, as his biographer comments; the fact that he had the triple disqualification of being an Irishman, a Catholic, and a Jesuit proved insupportable to the British Government. His final days came while his battalion was fighting in the Third Battle of Ypres in August 1917. On th14 August 1917, he wrote his last letter to his father: Three days later he was dead at Passchendaele. There are conflicting accounts as to how he died: one that he was attending to a soldier in a shelter when it was shelled, the other that he was shot while attending the soldier. What is certain is that on 17th August 1917, the life of Willie Doyle SJ was claimed at the age of 44. His friend and fellow-teacher from Belvedere, Fr. Frank Browne SJ (who was chaplain to The Irish Guards), identified Willie Doyle’s remains and assisted at his funeral. It is not known where Fr. Willie Doyle is buried. In November 1999, a story was published in the Guardian stating that an 88 year old woman knew the site of his grave. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission refused to re-open the grave for tests. Thus, the place of Willie Doyle’s burial remains a secret. He is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 144 to 145). As an indication of the respect Fr. Doyle had amongst the Irishmen from the North and South of Ireland, perhaps the last word on this man should be left to an Ulster Presbyterian written in ‘The Weekly News,’ on the 1st of September 1917: “God never made a nobler soul. Fr. Doyle was a good deal among us. We could not possibly agree with his religious opinions, but we simply worshipped him for other things. He didn’t know the meaning of fear and he did not know what bigotry was. He was as ready to risk his life and take a drop of water to a wounded Ulsterman as to assist men of his own faith and regiment. If he risked his life looking after Ulster Protestant Soldiers once, he did it a hundred times in the last few days.” http://www.catholicpamphlets.net/pamphlets/The%20Exploits%20of%20Fr%20William%20 Doyle%20S.%20J..pdf “Fr. Willie Doyle and World War 1 A Chaplain’s story by K.V. Turley was published in 2014: https://www.amazon.com/Willie-Doyle-World-War-Chaplains-ebook/dp/B074K42WPG

June 2018 . . . 3 . . . Irish hero of Siege of Jadotville finally honoured The Siege of Jadotville, one of the most wrongfully forgotten battles in Irish and UN military history By Leo Delaney The Siege of Jadotville took place from the French 75 mm field gun. The Irish 13th-17th September 1961, during the United soldiers successfully defended Nations intervention in the Katanga conflict against successive waves of in Congo-Léopoldville, in Central Africa. attackers from their positions. The The foreign minister of Belgium had called Irish Support Platoon knocked out the (UN) Secretary General, most of the Katangese mortar and reporting that Belgian settlers and the local artillery positions with accurate population were unprotected, and feared for counter-battery fire from 60 mm their safety. So, “A” Company, 35th Battalion mortars. After withstanding four (UN service) of the ONUC Corporal Pat Quinlan from Caherdaniel days of repeated attacks, the Irish (United Nations Operation in the Congo), a a few days before the Siege of Jadotville fired on identified Katangese mortar contingent of one hundred and fifty-five men whose inspired leadership saved all and machine-gun positions with th was asked to assist in protecting them but met 155 men in “A” Company, 35 Battalion several hours of continuous and with hostility. concentrated fire from their own mortars and machine guns. The inexperienced and underequipped Irish soldiers were The Irish fire proved accurate and effective. attending an open-air Mass when an Irish sentry, Private officers were reportedly observed shooting native gendarmes Billy Ready fired a warning shot that raised the alarm. They to stem the rout caused in Katangese lines. The Katangese were attacked by a combined force of three to five thousand asked Quinlan for a cease-fire, as their forces had been men: Katanga Gendarmerie troops loyal to the Katangese seriously diminished. By this time, their effective strength may have been reduced to two thousand men. The five hundred Irish and Swedish UN troops based in Kamina, and Indian army Gurkhas (apparently 3rd Battalion, 1 Gorkha Rifles) made several attempts to relieve the besieged Irish soldiers. The supporting force of , many of them French, German, Belgian and South African veterans of the Algerian War beat back these efforts. They had been brought in by Moise Tshombe, Katanga’s premier, whose secessionist government had been supported by Belgium. A series of battles took place at a pinch point called the Lufira Bridge. It carried the Jadotville-to-Elizabethville Highway across the Lufira River. The Katangese forces dug Prime Minister, Moise Tshombe who believed the UN had in here and brought heavy and sustained ground and air fire broken its mandate and its forces were siding with their onto the relief column, killing several Indian UN troops, opponent, the Congolese central government; Belgian, injuring a number of Irish UN troops and ultimately forcing French and Rhodesian mercenaries; Belgian settlers and the column off the bridge. local Luba tribesmen. They had light and heavy armament “A” Company, 35th Battalion, suffered no deaths and only and air support from a Fouga Magister trainer jet with five wounded in action during the siege. The Katangese, underwing bombs and machine guns. Under the leadership on the other hand, suffered heavy losses. Up to three of Commandant Pat Quinlan, the Irish soldiers, besieged hundred were killed, including thirty mercenaries, and an in Jadotville (modern Likasi), a prosperous mining town, indeterminate number were wounded, with figures ranging approximately one hundred kilometers up-country from from three hundred to one thousand. Quinlan, however, the main UN base in Elizabethville, armed with personal had no access to resupply and reinforcements and, with his weapons, a few water cooled Vickers machine guns and transport destroyed by the Fouga Magister jet, a breakout 60 mm mortars, resisted Katangese assaults for five days was virtually impossible. as a relief force of Irish and Swedish troops unsuccessfully At one stage in the conflict, a mission to bring in water attempted to reach the Irish contingent. by air was successful, but due to the use of contaminated The Katangese attacked in waves of six hundred or so, containers (previously used to store petrol) the water was preceded by bombardment from 81 mm mortars and a largely undrinkable. Quinlan lacked any clear direction

June 2018 . . . 4 . . . or communication from his superiors, and the Katangese done all our basic training at home and then our company gradually infringed on the cease-fire agreement to undermine commander kept us on our toes all the time out there. They “A” Company’s position. In the end, with his position (Katangese gendarmeries and mercenaries) were patrolling untenable, without any clear orders or promise of assistance, every hour on the hour past having run out of ammunition and food and low on water, our camp and I remember our Quinlan accepted the second offer to surrender to the company commander saying to Katangese. The Irish were held as hostages for approximately us, “Just act normal as if you’re one month, in an effort to extort terms of ceasefire that were just sitting out in the sun.” We embarrassing to the UN. The Katangese and their mercenary dug our trenches at night so allies bartered the Irish soldiers for prisoners in the custody they did not know that we had of the Congolese government of Joseph Kasa-Vubu. After any positions dug... We had no being released, the troops were returned to their base in fatalities, no nothing thank God Elizabethville. Some weeks later, however, “A” Company and Pat Quinlan promised the found itself involved in active combat again, this time with families when we were going the support of Swedish UN troops. Eventually, they were out that he would bring every reinforced with fresh troops from Ireland (their replacement man home and he did.” was the 36th Battalion). After weeks of fighting and their In 2004, Irish Minister for Defence, Willie O’Dea agreed six-month tour of duty now complete, “A” Company was to hold rotated out of the battle zone and was home in Ireland that a full December. review Inaccurate reports of the deaths of several Irish soldiers of the circulated in the media at the time of the attacks. When they battle. A returned home, no Irish soldier received any decoration for Defence his actions at Jadotville, although Quinlan recommended Forces’ a number of his men for the Military Medal for Gallantry inquiry (MMG), Ireland’s highest award for military valour, for their cleared actions during the battle. Quinlan eventually retired as a full Quinlan colonel but never served overseas again. The Irish officers and “A” who fought at Jadotville found that it was career limiting to Company ever mention the battle. Commandant Pat Quinlan o f The veterans of Jadotville were dissatisfied that the Defence maintains discipline, training and morale, th Forces refused to acknowledge the battle and that there was as “A” Company, 35 Battalion lines up for Roll Call an implied black mark on the reputation of their commander. while they were all hostages They regarded Quinlan as an exceptional officer who had allegations of soldierly misconduct. Since then, the veterans saved the lives of his men by ordering them to dig in, and have been steadily honoured. A commemorative stone, who successfully led his company against an overwhelming recognising the soldiers of “A” Company, was erected on enemy force. He was forced into an impossible situation by the grounds of in in 2005. A the apparent failings of the UN leadership. Against the odds, commissioned portrait of Quinlan was installed in the Congo he had saved the lives of each of his men in a battle they Room of the Irish ’ UN School. In 2016, had neither expected nor planned for. According to RTÉ, “A” Company, 35th Battalion was awarded a Presidential “Commandant Quinlan’s action is Unit Citation by the Irish government and the siege was cited in military textbooks worldwide dramatized in a feature film called “The Siege of Jadotville” as the best example of the use of by Netflix. In October 2017, the first annual “Jadotville Day” the so-called perimeter defence”. was held in Athlone and in a special ceremony, a plaque Quinlan, who died in 1997, had his commemorating Quinlan was unveiled in his native County public reputation restored nine years Kerry, by former Taoiseach . The decision of the after his death. government to honour the soldiers of Jadotville or their next John Gorman, a retired soldier who of kin was one of the last decisions taken by Enda Kenny had been a 17-year-old private during before he retired as Taoiseach in June 2017. They were the battle, campaigned to have the presented with specially commissioned medals in Custume Battle of Jadotville recognized. “I Barracks in Athlone on the 2nd December 2017, fifty-six must say our company commander the years after the September 1961 siege. Each medal depicts late Commandant Pat Quinlan was an a Celtic warrior, and is inscribed in Irish with the words absolutely outstanding man... We’d bravery, defence and calm.

June 2018 . . . 5 . . . Chief Christine Zachary-Deom honoured

By Martina McLean At St. James Club in downtown Montreal, on Tuesday, Christine thanked the Jeanie Johnston Educational the 10th April 2018, more than 100 people gathered Foundation and the Hospitaller Order of St. John of to honour Chief Christine Zachary-Deom from the Jerusalem for “such a great honour”. She received a Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke. The Hospitallers standing ovation for her emotive speech. Order of St. John of Jerusalem and The Jeanie Johnston Judy Shapiro Knight told the assembly that she met Foundation, hosted the dinner in recognition of her Ietsénhaienhs Christine Zachary-Deom thirty years ago work in having changes made to the City of Montreal at law school. For her, Christine stood out in the crowd: flag. The new flag, which was officially raised on the a lady, focused and organised. They graduated together. 13th September 2017, recognizes the contributions of She appreciates that her dear friend is intensely proud Indigenous peoples in Montreal’s history by adding the and positive about the First Nations. Embued with a White Pine symbol at its center. deep sense of justice, she regards her as “a true guardian “Christine was an integral part of the team that did an of the accused, she vigorously defends everyone.” incredible amount of work to bring that major project She particularly remembered one situation with to fruition,” said Grand Chief Joseph Norton. “She Christine where there was a rolling roadblock, with the received the Keys to the City of Montreal for her efforts RCMP behind and in front of them. She was appalled in consultation and reconciliation. We share in her that Christine was pulled over because of who she pride for a job well done and are pleased that she is was and where she was from. From then on, Christine receiving this further honor.” mentored Judy in Charter motions. She is grateful to After the delicious meal, a genuinely delighted Christine Christine for defending in racial profiling, outwards exclaimed that praise is not what she expected, it’s not from Indigenous people to the outside world, to redress what her people expect - they are hardworking people. the preconceived notions and show strong women and “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said tightknit families. Through their shared cultures, she as she took in the whole room. She also expressed has learned to never neglect the experience of the other gratitude to her granddaughters and other members of and to reach out to Montreal. Why? She has a deeply the community for their support, laughter and affection. shared belief that profound knowledge of the other is “They cried in their soup at their council table!” when to know and understand the other so as to bridge gaps. they heard that she was to be honoured. Then, the two friends hugged one another to a standing A much moved lady told us that “It shocks her how ovation from a very appreciative audience. much she loves the flag: the new symbol has so much Malcolm MacLeod thanked Christine, recognising her meaning for this country… It speaks to the principals of passion, drive and ability to get things done as well peace of the First Nations… The great law of peace is as her “battle technique – to make as much noise as central to the Iroquois constitution... The emblem is the possible.” greatest symbol. It comes from the 1100s symbolizing Christine is a Knight of the Hospitaller Order of St. that people could come and seek assistance under the John of Jerusalem, whose organization has roots back tree.” Christine also recognized the place of Kahnawake in the Crusader times. She is also an Honorary Patron of in ensuring the independence of Canada as a result of the Jeanie Johnston Educational Foundation, has been the Mohawk involvement in the war of 1812. very helpful to the Foundation’s project in 2013 in the For Christine, Montreal offers this place of peace. Commemoration Ceremonies at the site of the Battle of She longs for the “betterment of relations’’ between the Chateauguay and is a staunch supporter of the Irish Montreal city and her people, acknowledging that they Park Famine Memorial Stone Project. were invited for the 375th celebrations. She hopes for Kahnawake TV was there. Go to YouTube: in English closer ties between the two communities. “Let’s keep it & French - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za- Grand Chief, Joseph Norton, going!” she urged. xdVAQHnA Kahnawake

June 2018 . . . 6 . . . L-R: Marie-Eve Bordeleau, Magna Popeanu Caitlin Bailey, newly L-R: Antoinette MacCallum, Mike Rehill City of Montreal; Leo Delaney, Jeanie Johnston invested Hospitaller and other guest H.E Bailiff and Jason MacCallum, St. Andrew’s Society

L-R; Ken Bentley and Bruce Bolton, MacDonald Stewart Foundation

Mike Rehill, H.E.Bailiff, KH, Lady of the moment Hospitaller, Order of St. John CHRISTINE of Jerusalem

L-R: Michael Canuel, Leo Delaney, and Martin Plante

L-R: Bonnie Malcolm, Prosper Adzah Co-Chair of the event, Malcolm MacLeod

Dugald Malcolm and Mike Maloney Grand Chief, Joseph Norton, Piper Comp/Knight Kahnawake

June 2018 . . . 7 . . . Honorary Patrons The Jeanie Johnston Educational Foundation His Excellency Jim Kelly welcomes one new board member Irish Ambassador to Canada VICTOR BOYLE Hon. Jean Charest National Chairman Ancient Order of Hibernians Former Premier of Quebec Founder Director, Irish Park Foundation

Hon. Daniel Johnson, Former Premier of Quebec.

Hon. Pierre Marc Johnson Former Premier of Quebec

Richard Pound, CC, OQ, QC, LLD Chancellor Emeritus McGill University The Jeanie Johnston Educational Foundation Inc., is pleased to welcome, Chief, Christine Zachary-Deom Victor Boyle, Mohawk Council, Kahnawake to the Board of Directors as of May 15th 2018. We look forward to his contribution and guidance. Peter Trent CD Victor’s tireless work on the cause of the Irish Memorial, Former Mayor Westmount known as “The Black Rock” is legendry and we look forward ******* to working with him in the future.

Directors Chairman Leo Delaney KH Resources

V. Chairman We have a new website: Noel Burke, M.Ed. http://www.jeaniejohnstonfoundation.com Glen P. Carlin. Eng. F CAE., F.EIC, Promotes Education * History * Immigration * Literacy CEO. Champlain & Jacques Bridges Inc. Provides classroom ready lessons - new teaching method Tino Bordonaro, M.A. Incorporates: English Montreal School Board www.canadarailwaytimes.com .Patrick Buckland Ph.D www.jeaniejohjnstoneducation.com Eileen Marcil Ph.D www.irishfamine.ca (under reconstruction) Chris Culpin M.A . Oxon, British & Irish Education Ministry www.hospitaller.ca Brian Young, Emeritus History, History and aims of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem McGill University Ben Walsh, B.A. British Educational Technology Scott MacLeod, Educational films Thank you to our sponsors Rob Lutes B.A. Dip. Journalism Alan Hustak Victor Boyle, National Chair, Ancient Order Hibernians

Legal Counsel Francois Morin Borden, Ladner, Gervais, LLD History Adviser Sam Allison, B.Sc.(LSE) M.A. (McGill)

Charitable Reg: 85857 9196RR001

June 2018 . . . 8 . . .