Saturday, 29th November 2025, marked the unveiling of a bust of Trooper Anthony Browne MMG at Arbour Hill. The bust was commissioned by a committee from the Irish United Nations Veterans Association and was undertaken by one of Ireland’s leading bronze portrait sculptors, Séamus Connolly. The plinth stand, and inscription, is by Stephen Bracken of Bracken Headstones and Monuments. The bust will be placed in IUNVA Headquarters at Arbour Hill.
The ceremony was attended by members of Anthony Browne’s family, including his two sisters, along with a large contingent of veterans and serving military guests. Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham (Retd) and Commandant Billy Campbell (Retd) represented ARCO. The guest speaker was Tom McCaughren, the journalist and author of The Peacemakers of Niemba.
L to R: Derek Judge IUNVA National Chairperson, Regimental-Sergeant-Major James Scanlon Cavalry School, Brigadier-General Niall Nolan Assistant Chief of Staff, Monica and Marie (sisters of Trooper Browne), Councillor Ray McAdam Lord Mayor of Dublin, members of the Browne family, Commandant Claire Mortimer Squadron Commander 2 Cavalry Squadron, Colonel Ray O’Lehan Director Combat Support and ISTAR.
Anthony Browne grew up in Fatima Mansions, Rialto and enlisted in the Defence Forces in December 1957. While serving with 2 Motor Squadron in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, he deployed to the Congo in 1960 as a member of 2 Platoon A Company 33 Infantry Battalion. On 8th November an eleven-man patrol, led by Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson, left their base to carry out a route reconnaissance to the south of Niemba Village.
While inspecting a damaged bridge the patrol was attacked without warning by a large group of Baluba Tribesmen. In the confused fighting that followed, Browne showed great courage, throwing away a chance to escape by assisting a wounded comrade. The other Irish fatalities at Niemba were Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson, Sergeant Hugh Gaynor, Corporal Peter Kelly, Corporal Liam Dougan, Private Matthew Farrell, Trooper Thomas Fennell, Private Gerard Killeen, and Private Michael McGuinn.
Ultimately there were only two survivors of the Niemba party: Trooper Thomas Kenny and Private Thomas Fitzpatrick. Eight of the bodies were recovered and flown home for burial. The incident greatly shocked the Irish public, and large crowds lined the route of the funeral procession. Trooper Browne was not found and was officially listed as being ‘missing, presumed dead’. In November 1961 he was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry with Distinction, the Defence Forces’ highest bravery award. He was the first recipient of the medal. The citation reads:
‘In recognition of his exceptional bravery involving risk to life and limb at Niemba, Republic of the Congo, on the 8 November 1960, in that he endeavoured to create an opportunity to allow an injured comrade to escape by firing his Gustav, thereby drawing attention to his own position which he must have been aware would endanger his own life. He had a reasonable opportunity of escaping because he was not wounded but chose to remain with an injured comrade.’
In November 1962 his remains were found. It became clear that Anthony did not die at Niemba but later escaped into the bush. He died a few days later in a separate incident almost three miles from the scene of the ambush.
