6e Bataljon Infanterie

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tagsorganization, dutch, colonial, military, 19th-century, aceh-war, infantry
aliases6de Bataljon, 6e Bataljon, 6th Infantry Battalion, 6e Bataillon Infanterie, Sixth KNIL Infantry Battalion, 6th KNIL Battalion

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The 6e Bataljon Infanterie — also written 6de Bataljon — was a Dutch colonial field infantry battalion of the Oost-Indisch Leger that arrived in Atjeh on 8 April 1896 aboard the steamers three companies and the fourth company, and was immediately committed to Kolonel Stemfoort’s relief column for Biloel and Lamkoenjit. Originally commanded by Luit.-kol. H. Bendien (who shortly transferred to the 9e Bataljon), then by Maj. D. A. Okhuyzen (wounded 17 April 1896), the battalion became one of the most heavily engaged infantry units of the spring 1896 campaign, participating in the tuchtiging of Lam Goet on 14 April, the Battle of Senelop on 17 April, the three-day offensive of 23–25 May 1896, the machtsvertoon in III Moekims Daroe on 29 May, and the Ladoeng Landing of 22–23 June 1896.

Background and Formation

The 6e Bataljon arrived in Atjeh as part of the reinforcements summoned after Teuku Umar’s defection of 29 March 1896. On 8 April 1896 three companies disembarked from the Reael and the fourth from the General Pel — the latter vessel also bringing the 1e Bergbatterij. The battalion was quartered on the highest part of the exercise terrain at Petjoet in Koeta Radja, in lodgings of kasso’s, planks, galvanized iron, or asphalt felt erected because of the approaching west monsoon. Two of its companies — under Luit.-kol. H. Bendien, 10 officers, 170 European and 135 native ranks — marched the same day as part of Kolonel Stemfoort’s relief column for Biloel and Lamkoenjit. After Bendien transferred to the 9e Bataljon, command of the 6e Bataljon fell to Maj. D. A. Okhuyzen.

Role in the Atjeh War

On 14 April 1896 the 6e Bataljon participated in the tuchtiging of Lam Goet against the bende of Toekoe Hoesin Lehong Bata. On 17 April 1896 it formed part of Stemfoort’s colonne in the Battle of Senelop, during which Maj. D. A. Okhuyzen was wounded; two companies of the battalion were engaged as the middelste colonne via Adje/Boeneleh/Tjot Bada to Tjot Goet on 2 May 1896. On 20 April 1896 it was held in reserve. On 23 May 1896 the battalion — now 14 officieren and 467 minderen (w.o. 243 Europeanen) — formed the colonne tegen de XXII Moekims under Maj. Okhuyzen, and on 25 May 1896 led the omtrekking of Daman in the bestorming van de stelling Daman. On 29 May 1896 it formed part of Luit.-kol. C. J. Laceulle’s colonne in the machtsvertoon in III Moekims Daroe. 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 battalion’s strength developed through the spring. On 8 April 1896 it fielded 10 officers, 170 European and 135 native ranks in two companies under Luit.-kol. H. Bendien. On 23 May 1896 it reported 14 officieren and 467 minderen (including 243 Europeanen) under Maj. D. A. Okhuyzen. The strength return of 1 June 1896 recorded 13 officers and 411 minderen. Adjudant to Majoor Okhuyzen was 1e luitenant adjudant C. A. Meulemans. Casualties in the spring included Maj. Okhuyzen himself, wounded on 17 April 1896 at Senelop.

Significance

The 6e Bataljon Infanterie exemplifies the rapid operational deployment of a fresh colonial battalion into a collapsing theatre: disembarked on 8 April 1896, two of its companies were in combat within hours as part of the Stemfoort relief column. The wounding of Maj. Okhuyzen at Senelop on 17 April — the most costly single day for the Dutch in April — underscores the price paid by line infantry in the assault on prepared Acehnese versterkingen. The battalion’s continued employment through the Ladoeng landing at the end of June demonstrates the operational tempo that Lt.-Gen. Vetter imposed on the Dutch forces in the four months following Teuku Umar’s defection.

Sources

Atjeh gedurende de tweede expeditie en later, Een Oud Officier, Batavia: Ogilvie & Co., 1876, pp. 11-14.

See Also

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. 83, 84, 94, 96, 99, 120, 185, 212, 223, 246, 293.

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