The 7e Bataljon Infanterie — also written 7de Bataljon — was a Dutch colonial field infantry battalion of the Oost-Indisch Leger that arrived in Atjeh aboard the KPM steamers in late April 1896 as part of the second tranche of reinforcements summoned after Teuku Umar’s defection of 29 March 1896. Commanded by Maj. J. R. Jacobs, the battalion was first encamped south of the 9e Bataljon’s campement at Nesoch in Koeta Radja and went on to fight at Lam-Asan and Lam Tjroeng in the three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896, the machtsvertoon in III Moekims Daroe of 29 May 1896, and the tuchtiging of V Moekims Montassik of 16–17 June 1896. Its companies were led by Kapitein van Gemmingen (1e compagnie), Kapitein Scheuer (3e compagnie), and Kapitein Broekhoff.
Background and Formation
As a veldbataljon of the colonial army, the 7e Bataljon combined European and indigenous companies armed with Beaumont rifles. Its arrival in Atjeh was part of the reinforcement programme approved after Lt.-Gen. Vetter’s appointment as Regeeringscommissaris: five KPM steamers brought the 5e and 7e Bataljons Infanterie, a bergbatterij, a cavalerie peloton, and suppletietroepen. Buildings of kasso’s, planks, galvanized iron, or asphalt felt were erected for the arriving 7e Bataljon south of the 9e Bataljon’s campement at Nesoch because of the approaching west monsoon, the lack of more temporary building materials (bamboo, atap), and the expectation that the lodgings would be used for some time. On 4 May 1896 the battalion formed part of Luit.-kol. H. Bendien’s expedition to the XIII Moekims Toengkoeb — its 1e compagnie (under Kapitein van Gemmingen) leaning with its right vleugel against the sawah south-west of Lam Beheu, and a compagnie occupying the south-east rand of Lam Reh against twintigtal armed men in the masdjid.
Role in the Atjeh War
On 23 May 1896 the 7e Bataljon was initially held in reserve at Ketapan Doea during the opening of the three-day Dutch offensive. Later that day, however, the battalion was committed alongside the 9e Bataljon in the assault that talso Lam-Asan, and on 25 May 1896 it fought at Lam Tjroeng. On 29 May 1896 the battalion formed part of Luit.-kol. C. J. Laceulle’s colonne in the machtsvertoon in III Moekims Daroe under Maj. J. R. Jacobs. On 16 June 1896 the battalion — as the 2e Colonne under Lt.-Col. Van Heutsz — formed part of the tuchtiging of V Moekims Montassik and XIII Moekims Toengkoeb, fighting at Tjot Maraja, Balik Angin, Toei Selimbing, Aloer Lintang, Lam-Nga, Lam-Pasei, and Lam-Bada, and storming the Panteh Karang redoute on 16 June 1896. On 17 June 1896 the battalion continued operations, with Lam-Soet burned and the Kroeng-Kali benteng eventually stormed by the compagnie of Kapitein Linck of the 5e Bataljon.
Composition and Strength
The strength return of 1 June 1896 records the 7e Bataljon as 15 officers and 409 minderen under Maj. J. R. Jacobs. Adjudant to Majoor Jacobs was 1e luitenant adjudant E. C. van der Heijden. Company commanders during the spring included Kapitein van Gemmingen (1e compagnie), Kapitein Scheuer (3e compagnie), and Kapitein Broekhoff. The battalion’s repeated commitment in the May–June 1896 operations — from Lam-Asan through Lam Tjroeng to the V Moekims Montassik — indicates heavy operational tempo with correspondingly high ammunition expenditure and fatigue.
Significance
The 7e Bataljon Infanterie was a late-arriving reinforcement battalion that, despite its short residence in Atjeh by the end of June 1896, fought in nearly every major Dutch column from the 23–25 May offensive onward. Its deployment alongside the 9e Bataljon in the 2e Colonne of the V Moekims Montassik tuchtiging under Lt.-Col. Van Heutsz reflects the Dutch practice of pairing experienced and newly arrived battalions in mixed colonnes. The Panteh Karang redoubt — stormed on 16 June 1896 — was the reported refuge of the pretender sultan, who fled on the Dutch approach.
See Also
- J. B. van Heutsz (Luitenant-Kolonel)
- Three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896
- Bestorming van de Stelling Daman–Lam Tjroeng–Lam Poelau (25 May 1896)
- Machtsvertoon in III Moekims Daroe (29 May 1896)
- Tuchtiging der V Moekims Montassik (16–17 June 1896)
- Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij (KPM)
- The Pretender Sultan (de pretendent sultan)
- 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. 199, 202, 223, 226, 238, 246, 247, 293.