The Third Capture of Mesjid Raya occurred on 6 January 1874 during the Second Aceh Expedition, resulting in the permanent capture of the Mesjid Raya Aceh by Dutch colonial forces.
Detailed Narrative
At 5:00 AM on 6 January 1874, the 2nd Brigade commanded by Colonel C. de Roy van Zuydewijn crossed the Aceh River to attack the Mesjid Raya Aceh. Siege mortar batteries at Peunayong opened fire at 7:00 AM, firing over 500 heavy artillery shells into the mosque defenses.
Advancing through dense jungle along the riverbank, the leading company of the 3rd Battalion encountered heavy musket and swivel-gun fire at 9:00 AM. Colonel De Roy van Zuydewijn deployed mountain guns at point-blank range (20 meters) and ordered a bayonet charge led by the 14th Battalion.
Dutch infantry stormed the outer parapets and entered the mosque enclosure at 10:30 AM. Sappers immediately fortified the open eastern wall with sandbags. The 3rd Battalion suffered 75% officer casualties during the advance. Dutch losses totaled 15 killed and 208 wounded, while Acehnese defenders left over 100 dead inside the complex.
See Also
Source
De expeditiën naar Atjeh 1873-1874, W.W.F. Herfkens, Koninklijke Militaire Academie, 1900, pp. 51-53.