Jhr. L. D. C. de Lannooy — Ritmeester (Cavalry Captain) of the K.N.I.L., of the noble prefix Jhr. (Jonkheer) — was the commander of the cavalry detachment — a half-squadron (half escadron) of the 4th Cavalry Squadron — attached to the Dutch columns in Groot-Atjeh during the 1896 campaign, in which capacity he led the cavalry at the relief of Biloel and Lamkoenjit on 8 April 1896, at the great tuchtiging of the IV and VI Moekims of 23–25 May 1896, and on the expedition to Lepong of August 1896. He is the principal cavalry officer of the 1896 campaign in ATJEH ‘96 (1913).
The 1896 campaign
De Lannoij — the spelling Kruisheer uses — commanded the half-squadron of cavalry attached to the relief column of Lt.-Kol. Soeters for the relief of Biloel and Lamkoenjit on 8 April 1896. The 1e Deel of ATJEH ‘96 records his reconnaissance of the country between Koetaradja and the southern posts, his discovery of the enemy’s positions at Lam-Hasan and Lam-Permai, and his role in covering the march of the infantry columns. He is mentioned in the Inleiding for his ride on 5 May 1896 with Lt.-Kol. Van Vliet and a single cavalryman to the post of Lam-Permai, during which the party was op 60 M. afstand flink onder vuur genomen — at 60 metres’ distance heavily fired upon — but was not hit. The Tweede Deel records his participation in the expedition to Lepong of August 1896, where he commanded the cavalry reconnaissance of the west-coast landing grounds.
The half escadron
The 4th Escadron cavalry detachment under De Lannoij was, on 1 January 1896, composed of three officers and fifty-two European men, with the appropriate horses and equipment. The half-squadron was the principal Dutch cavalry force in Groot-Atjeh throughout the 1896 campaign, and De Lannoij’s personal reconnaissance placed him at the centre of the intelligence-gathering effort that preceded every major Dutch operation of the year.
Significance
De Lannoij is the principal cavalry officer of the 1896 campaign in ATJEH ‘96. His half-squadron was the principal Dutch cavalry force in Atjeh, and his personal reconnaissance placed him at the centre of the intelligence-gathering effort that preceded every major Dutch operation of the year.
See Also
- ATJEH ‘96 (book by A. Kruisheer)
- 1896
- Relief of Biloel and Lamkoenjit (8 April 1896)
- Three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896
- Excursie to Lepong and Lohong (10–14 August 1896)
- G. F. Soeters
- C. P. J. van Vliet
- G. A. Hansen
- J. B. van Heutsz
- Aceh War
Source
ATJEH ‘96. 1e Deel, door A. Kruisheer, Kapitein der Infanterie O.I.L. (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913), Hoofdstuk I, p. 53: Detachment cavalerie: commandant Ritm. Jhr. L. D. C. de Lannoij; Hoofdstuk II passim; Inleiding: op 60 M. afstand flink onder vuur genomen.
ATJEH ‘96. Tweede Deel (2c Deel), door A. Kruisheer (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913), Hoofdstuk IV passim, De tocht naar Lepong.