12e Bataljon Infanterie

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tagsorganization, dutch, colonial, military, 19th-century, aceh-war, infantry
aliases12de Bataljon, 12e Bataljon, 12th Infantry Battalion, 12e Bataillon Infanterie, Twelfth KNIL Infantry Battalion, 12th KNIL Battalion

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The 12e Bataljon Infanterie — also written 12de Bataljon — was a Dutch colonial field infantry battalion of the Oost-Indisch Leger, present in Atjeh at the start of 1896 and engaged in nearly every major Dutch column of the spring, from the immediate counter-measures after Teuku Umar’s defection of 29 March 1896 through the three-day offensive of 23–25 May 1896 and the tuchtiging of V Moekims Montassik of 16–17 June 1896. Commanded initially by Overste G. Ilgen, then by Maj. G. F. Soeters, and in his absence (wd.) by Kapitein A. J. van Geelen, the battalion furnished troops for the buitenposten of Tjot Rang and Toengkoeb and supplied companies for the planned March column of Lt.-Col. C. P. J. van Vliet. The battalion was one of the largest in the theatre, with a 1 June 1896 strength of 13 officers and 512 minderen.

Background and Formation

As a veldbataljon of the colonial army, the 12e Bataljon combined European and indigenous companies armed with Beaumont rifles. In the early months of 1896 it was among the principal line-infantry units of the Atjeh garrison, providing troops for the buitenposten of Tjot Goeë, Tjot Rang, and Toengkoeb, and figuring in Lt.-Col. C. P. J. van Vliet’s planned (but cancelled) March column under Overste G. Ilgen. On 30 March 1896 three of its companies were sent by stoomtram to Lampeneroet with orders to march to Tjot Goeë and await orders, two of these returning at 9 PM to Koeta Radja; during that march European fusiliers Van Gelder (No. 39084) and De Vries (No. 39291) were severely wounded by fire from Lam Tehen and Koeta Karang. On 31 March–1 April 1896 one European company of the 12e Bataljon held the intersection of the Koeta Radja–Lampeneroet and Koeta Radja–Ketapan Doewa roads, with one section forward at the bridge over Kroeng Daroe and one at village Lohong, in the hinderlagen laid to protect Koeta Radja.

Role in the Atjeh War

On 14 April 1896 the 12e Bataljon operated against Lam Goet in the tuchtiging of Lam Goet under Maj. G. F. Soeters. On 17 April 1896 it was committed in Stemfoort’s colonne at Senelop. On 20 April 1896 it operated again in the final phase of the evacuation of the buitenlinie. On 2 May 1896 it formed the rechtercolonne of the diversie to Montassik under Maj. Soeters (described in the source as “Maj. Sterss” or “Maj. Sters”), with ½ escadron cavalerie under Ritmeester Jhr. de Lannoy; the column talso Lamsoet without opposition at 6 AM and occupied Lam-Oe. On 23 May 1896 the battalion — now 18 officieren, 240 Eur. and 205 inl. minderen — formed part of the colonne Lamtih under Luit.-kol. G. F. Soeters in the three-day offensive. On 24 May 1896 the battalion burned villages west of Pantjoeran and on 25 May 1896 led the march to Djirat. The 3e compagnie, under Kapitein F. W. G. C. L. Steup (injured by falling into a pit at the start of the Lam Manjang march on 23 May, his command passing to 1e luit. Ferguson), led the attack on Lam Manjang and Lam Isi. From 30 May to 2 June 1896 the battalion formed part of the dekkingstroepen of the razing of Lam-Asan under Luit.-kol. Soeters. On 22 June–23 June 1896 the battalion marched in the 2e (land) Colonne under Kolonel Stemfoort in the Ladoeng landing and Glé Broeë attack.

Composition and Strength

The 12e Bataljon’s strength evolved through the spring. On 23 May 1896 it fielded 18 officieren, 240 European and 205 indigenous minderen under Luit.-kol. G. F. Soeters. The strength return of 1 June 1896 recorded 13 officers and 512 minderen, making it one of the largest Dutch battalions in the theatre. Command during the spring passed from Overste G. Ilgen to Maj. G. F. Soeters, with (wd.) Kapitein A. J. van Geelen deputizing during absences. Company commanders included Kapitein F. W. G. C. L. Steup (3e compagnie), Kapitein S. A. Drijber (5e compagnie, koloniale reserve), 1e luit. Ferguson (taking over the 3e compagnie on 23 May), and 1e luit. Tetenburg (peloton commander who brought munitieaanvulling to the 12e Bataljon at Lam Manjang on 23 May). Medical support was provided by the ambulance under Officier v. gez. J. F. Langenberg (12 minderen). The 5e compagnie under Kapitein S. A. Drijber conducted the evacuation of Tjot Rang on 21 April 1896.

Significance

The 12e Bataljon Infanterie was a workhorse of the spring 1896 campaign, present from the immediate counter-measures of 30 March 1896 through the final June operation at Glé Broeë. Its repeated commitment under successive commanders (Ilgen → Soeters → van Geelen) illustrates the strain that the spring 1896 operational tempo placed on Dutch battalion command. The capture of Lamsoet and Lam-Oe without opposition on 2 May 1896 — in contrast to the costly storm of Senelop the same day by the marechaussée and the 3e Bataljon — illustrates the differential outcomes that terrain and enemy disposition produced in the same operation. The 12e Bataljon’s 3e compagnie, leading the assault on Lam Manjang on 23 May 1896, bore the brunt of the heaviest fighting on the first day of the three-day offensive.

12e Bataljon Infanterie was a Dutch infantry unit that participated in the First Aceh Expedition.

Combat History

They were among the first units to conduct the Landing on Atjeh’s Coasts on 8 April 1873. Later, they provided vital cover and rear-guard defense during the intense operations of the Second Conquest of the Great Missigit on 14 April 1873.

See Also

Sources

ATJEH ‘96, door A. Kruisheer, Kapitein der Infanterie O.I.L., met 2 kaarten en 4 portretten (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913). Instituut Kern, Leiden. OCR-filename: 20260715_163243_DLP-89-Atjeh_96_Met_2_kaarten_en4_DOORA_KRUISHEER_Kapiteinder_Infanterie_nemoretriever-ocr-v1_OCR.txt, pp. 83, 84, 86, 88, 94, 119, 183, 212, 219, 238, 247, 294.

De verovering van Atjeh’s groote Missigit by J.F.D. Bruinsma, Sneek, 1889. Atjeh gedurende de tweede expeditie en later, Een Oud Officier, Batavia: Ogilvie & Co., 1876, pp. 11-14.

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