The 15de Bataljon Infanterie — also written 15e Bataljon — was a Dutch colonial field infantry battalion of the Oost-Indisch Leger, present in Atjeh at the start of 1896 and best known for providing the garrison of Ana’ Galong — the critical Dutch post in the XXII Moekims described by the Acehnese as the heart of Groot-Atjeh. The battalion furnished one captain, three lieutenants, and 120 bajonetten for the Ana’ Galong garrison (replacing the Lambaroe detachment on 7 March 1896), and its companies — led by Kapitein J. P. Linck and Kapitein P. H. Bodemeijer — contributed to the dekkingstroepen of the razing of Lam-Asan of 30 May–2 June 1896 and to the mixed battalion under Maj. K. W. Steinmetz in the tuchtiging of V Moekims Montassik of 16–17 June 1896.
Background and Formation
As a veldbataljon of the colonial army, the 15de Bataljon combined European and indigenous companies armed with Beaumont rifles. In the early months of 1896 it furnished the garrison of Ana’ Galong — one captain, three lieutenants, 120 bajonetten, one medical officer, one hospital attendant, an ambulance, and 16 artillerymen — replacing the Lambaroe detachment on 7 March 1896. The post, former main residence of Tengkoe di Tiroe who died there, had been conquered by the legioen of Teuku Umar on 30 November 1893 and was continually shot at by the enemy; in early 1896 the entrance was under such fire that a privy on the north side could not be used. The 15de Bataljon’s garrison there endured the 31 March 1896 bombardment by grenade and gunfire from Sibreh at 12:45 PM. Captain H. F. T. van Blokland was post commander of Ana’ Galong and the patrol leader of the famous patrol of 7 March 1896.
Role in the Atjeh War
From 30 May to 2 June 1896 the 15de Bataljon contributed companies to the dekkingstroepen of the razing of Lam-Asan — a major operation that destroyed the kampong and its versterkingen using 2 sectien genietroepen, 800 dwangarbeiders, and 400 Chinese koelies under the protection of multiple battalions (12de, 15de, 6e, 9e). The 15de Bataljon’s companies, alongside the 12de Bataljon, provided the protective cordon around the demolition parties. On 16 June 1896 a mixed battalion under Maj. K. W. Steinmetz — drawing companies from the 15de Bataljon — formed part of the Reserve-Colonne under Luit.-kol. G. F. Soeters in the tuchtiging of V Moekims Montassik and XIII Moekims Toengkoeb. The battalion’s Kapitein J. P. Linck and Kapitein P. H. Bodemeijer commanded the companies during these operations. (Kapitein J. P. Linck of the 15de Bataljon is not to be confused with Kapitein P. Linck of the 5e Bataljon who stormed the Kroeng-Kali benteng on 17 June 1896.)
Composition and Strength
The 15de Bataljon’s strength on 1 January 1896 — recorded in the Staat van troepensterkte op 1 Januari 1896 (Bijlage A) — formed part of the overall Atjeh garrison. The battalion’s Ana’ Galong garrison comprised 1 captain, 3 lieutenants, and 120 bajonetten, plus a medical officer, a hospital attendant, an ambulance, and 16 artillerymen. Company commanders during the spring included Kapitein J. P. Linck and Kapitein P. H. Bodemeijer. The strength return of 1 June 1896 records the battalion in the overall Atjeh garrison with the other Dutch battalions.
Significance
The 15de Bataljon’s chief significance in the spring 1896 campaign lies in its garrisoning of Ana’ Galong — the most exposed Dutch post in the XXII Moekims, considered by the Acehnese as the heart of Groot-Atjeh. The post had been conquered by Teuku Umar’s legioen on 30 November 1893 and was, by early 1896, under near-continuous fire. The 15de Bataljon’s role in the razing of Lam-Asan and the V Moekims Montassik tuchtiging exemplifies the operational employment of garrison battalions as dekkingstroepen for engineer-led demolition operations.
See Also
- Ana’ Galong
- Patrol of Captain Van Blokland (7 March 1896)
- Razing of Lam-Asan (30 May – 2 June 1896)
- Tuchtiging der V Moekims Montassik (16–17 June 1896)
- Teuku Umar
- Conquest of Ana’ Galong (30 November 1893)
- K. W. Steinmetz
- 1896
Source
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. 227, 294.