A. W. Wortman Jr. was a Dutch military officer who served as a captain in the Royal Netherlands Indies Army (KNIL). He was formerly the resident lieutenant of artillery (res. luitenant artillerie) of Atjeh and, as of June 1950, headed the Army Liaison Service (Dienst der Legercontacten). He was awarded a royal decoration in June 1950.
Career
Wortman Jr.’s posting as resident lieutenant of artillery in Atjeh placed him within the military structure of the KNIL’s garrison in Atjeh, which during the late colonial and early independence period was responsible for maintaining order in what had long been a turbulent region. The four garrison battalions (garnizoensbataljons) stationed in Atjeh on the eve of the Japanese invasion in March 1942 represented a significant military commitment, and the artillery component formed part of this defensive structure.
By June 1950, with the KNIL in the process of demobilisation and its responsibilities being transferred to the Indonesian armed forces (APRIS), Wortman Jr. had been reassigned to head the Army Liaison Service, a role that reflected the ongoing need for coordination between the remaining Dutch military personnel and the Indonesian authorities during the transition period.
Source
Oostkust van Sumatra-Instituut Mededeling No. 37: Deli-Figuren uit de jaren 1950 t/m 1952, compiled by Ir. F. J. J. Dootjes (Amsterdam, 1953).