Mac Gillavry is a subject named in General Swart, Pacifier of Atjeh (1943) by M. H. du Croo, in connection with the history of Atjeh and the governorship of H. N. A. Swart.
Account in du Croo’s Generaal Swart (1943)
From H. N. A. Swart
Swart’s own account preserved the human detail: crossing on improvised rafts he found beside him, to his surprise, lieutenant Mac Gillavry of Van Heutsz’s staff, who had come along without his knowledge. They worked their way cautiously along the bank towards the missigit (mosque), reached the edge of the fortification, and at Swart’s signal “voorwaarts” leapt over the wall into the midst of a garrison certainly two hundred strong. The surprise robbed the defenders of their courage; after a short but violent fight they fled. Across the water Van Heutsz was seen with his staff, shouting “who is that commander there and with how many men is he posted?” — to which Swart shouted back: “Captain Swart with eighteen men, but he requests reinforcement!”
From Pasè expedition (1899)
Swart’s own narrative added the details omitted from the official citation. Working himself onto dry land from an improvised raft, he found beside him — to his surprise — lieutenant Mac Gillavry of Van Heutsz’s staff, who had come along without his knowledge. Their little rafts happened to reach a stretch of the enemy position that was unoccupied. They worked their way cautiously and slowly along the bank in the direction of the missigit and reached the edge of the fortification, where Swart carefully posted his men. When all had recovered their breath he gave the signal “voorwaarts”: they sprang forward, over the wall of the missigit and into the midst of a startled garrison certainly a couple of hundred strong. The surprise had robbed the defenders of their courage; after a short but violent fight the garrison fled and left the missigit to Swart and his eighteen men.
See Also
Source
Generaal Swart, Pacificator van Atjeh (“General Swart, Pacifier of Atjeh”), by M. H. du Croo, Colonel K.N.I.L. (retired), with the collaboration of H. J. Schmidt, Titular Colonel K.N.I.L. (retired), with a foreword by His Excellency Lieutenant-General K.N.I.L. (retired) G. K. Dijkstra (Maastricht: N.V. Leiter-Nypels, 1943), passim.