The bloedvingers (“blood-fingers”) were the distinguishing facings on the collar of the uniform of the Korps Maréchaussée in Atjeh — a trimming on both corners of the collar which, with a flat curl on the sleeves, marked the maréchaussée off from other soldiers of the Netherlands-Indies army.
Description
The 1930 jubilee number records that in their clothing the maréchaussées were distinguished from other soldiers “door een uitmonstering, bestaande uit een belegsel op beide hoeken van den kraag, z.g. bloedvingers, en een platte krul op de mouwen” — by a facing consisting of a trimming on both corners of the collar, the so-called bloedvingers, and a flat curl on the sleeves. The facings were of gold for the officers and of orange cloth for the lower ranks.
Context
The distinctive uniform accompanied a distinctive status. Placement with the Maréchaussée “is een onderscheiding geweest en is dat gebleven” — was and remained a distinction — and the corps was exempt from garrison duties and ran its own menage (mess). Members received extra pay: captains on the scale of the General Staff, lieutenants and onderluitenants on that of the Engineers, with a separate scale of pay created for non-commissioned officers and men.
Additional detail from the jubilee number
Unlike regular KNIL infantry units that wore standard line uniforms, Marechaussee personnel wore specialized field uniforms designed for jungle agility:
- Collar Patches: Bright red or orange cloth facing on both front corners of the collar, nicknamed bloedvingers.
- Sleeve Scrolls: Flat ornamental sleeve scroll decorations (platte krul), rendered in gold lace for officers and orange wool cloth for enlisted ranks.
- Attila: A dark blue tunic (atilla) paired with white trousers for festive dress occasions in post garrison life.
The distinctive insignia made Marechaussee soldiers immediately recognizable throughout Aceh, instilling strong corps pride (korpsgeest) among the troops.
See Also
- Korps Maréchaussée te voet in Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden
- Klewang
- Karabijn (M. 95)
- Het Korps Maréchaussée in Atjeh (Jubileum-nummer 1930)
Source
Het Korps Maréchaussée in Atjeh: De Atjehsche Garde, 1890 - 2 April 1930, Extra Jubileum-nummer of Het Nieuws van den Dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië issued for the fortieth anniversary of the corps (1930), pp. 1-16. Offprint DLP-143, Bibliotheek KITLV, accession 621 116 794.