The opnemingsbrigade (survey brigade) was the small topographical unit of the Netherlands Indies Army in Atjeh charged with making and correcting the maps of the war terrain. In the period described by H. F. Meijer in Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876 (1883), its chief was Captain of the General Staff F. C. E. Meijer.
Why it mattered
Maps of the interior of Atjeh did not exist. By much patrolling outside the fortifications the troops had become tolerably acquainted with the immediately adjoining terrain, but that knowledge rarely extended further than about 200 metres from the posts; what lay beyond remained terra incognita until the troops had occupied it. A few rough sketches of the VI and IX Moekims and one of the whole of Groot-Atjeh existed, but they could not serve as a basis of operations or as guides for marching officers — only to give the commander the general direction of a movement. Later, it often proved that the goal could have been reached by a shorter road at lower cost.
Work in 1876
- The brigade made the hasty terrain survey, under enemy fire, of the southwest corner of kampong Lambaroe in the first days of February 1876 — the survey on which the storming of 7 March was directed, guided by Captain F. C. E. Meijer in person.
- Its personnel went along on the Biloel Zuid operation for the mapping of the IX Moekims, and on the July sweep through the IV and VI Moekims, being divided over the two columns.
- The principal map, the Kaart van het terrein des oorlogs in Groot-Atjeh, 1876 (map of the war terrain in Groot-Atjeh, 1876, scale 1:40,000, with the march routes of the operating troops in the period 26 December 1875 – 9 March 1876), accompanied and is printed with H. F. Meijer’s 1883 book, together with the brigade’s battle sketches of Lambaroe, Biloel Zuid, 17 July, 28 July, Gli Taroem and Pidir.
See Also
- F. C. E. Meijer
- Kolonel Meijer
- Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876
- Guerilla warfare in Groot-Atjeh
Source
Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876, door H. F. Meijer (Breda: P. B. Nieuwenhuijs, 1883), introduction (De kaarten), chapters VI–VIII and list of maps.