Lieutenant P. Spanjaard was a junior officer of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps who commanded a marine detachment during the 1868 expedition against the Acehnese settlement of Bandjar. He led the Marine Landings Division in a series of assaults on fortified kampongs, including Kali-Anget and Kampong Djentarek.
Service in Aceh (1868)
During the attack on 24 October 1868, Spanjaard’s detachment, comprising 11 officers and 170 marines, advanced along steep, slippery mountain paths to seize enemy fortifications. His conduct earned him an Eervolle Vermelding (Honorable Mention) for bravery and effective leadership.
Reputation
Contemporary reports (Cambier, p. 188) praised his “eervol vermeld” (honorable mention) while also noting the overall poor discipline of the landing division, which he attempted to enforce with a “heavy stick”.
Significance
Spanjaard’s actions contributed to the Dutch capture of key Acehnese strongholds, demonstrating the importance of marine officers in colonial amphibious warfare.
See Also
Source
De geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Korps Mariniers van 1665‑1945, OCR transcription, pp. 118‑119.