Marinebataljon was a Dutch naval infantry battalion of the Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger that operated in the Dutch East Indies during World War II. In March 1942 the battalion, under the command of Overste Roelofsen, conducted patrols and counter‑insurgency actions in the region north‑east of Grisseh and around Lamongan.
Composition and Command
- Commander: Overste Roelofsen (colonel of artillery, later Kolonel Van Dijk for the Zuid‑colonne)
- Sub‑units: motorised sections on motor‑bikes with side‑cars, a detachment led by Lieutenant‑colonel J. G. M. Nass, and later a small radio‑car unit.
- Assigned to the Zuid‑colonne alongside the Legioen Mangko Negoro and artillery companies.
Operations
The battalion was ordered to form at Djombang on 4 March 1942 and to advance towards Tjepoe to destroy a bridge over the Kali Solo. It also participated in reconnaissance missions westward and escorted civilian families to safety.
Significance
The Marinebataljon exemplified the Dutch effort to maintain order and resist Japanese advances in the East Indies, including the Aceh peninsula.
See Also
- Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger
- Legioen Mangko Negoro
- Overste Roelofsen
- Djombang
- Kali Solo
- Japanese invasion of Java
Source
De geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Korps Mariniers van 1665‑1945, OCR text, pp. 438‑442.