Baron Van Heeckeren van Molecaten was a Dutch first lieutenant of infantry, a member of the Dutch nobility, in Atjeh in 1876. He commanded the escort of the convoy attacked in the ambush of 21 March 1876 between Atoë and Kajoe-Lē, and was wounded the following night in the night alarms at the new bivouac of Atoë Noord.
21 March 1876
Ordered by Major J. Visser to bring a transport of 5 sick men and 65 free coolies and forced-labourers, with some soldiers’ wives, from Atoë to Kajoe-Lē with one other officer and 60 bayonets, Van Heeckeren was caught on the sodden sawah between the kampongs in thick fire from ditch and fence. He formed his four small sections on all four fronts, held the enemy off while the non-combatants lay flat on the ground behind them, and decided to fight back to Atoë. Wounded while about to take personal command of the rear covering party, he handed it to his native sergeant Suiringa — the official report praises both him and the steadiness of his men. The convoy reached Atoë with 5 killed and 8 wounded.
22–23 March 1876
The next morning the new post of Atoë Noord was begun on the ground of the battle, with the attacked troops bivouacking around it; that night the enemy returned in great numbers, firing into the bivouac from three sides, and Lieutenant Van Heeckeren, among the 1 officer, 3 non-commissioned officers and men and 1 overseer wounded, was hit a second time within two days.
Both appearances are recorded by H. F. Meijer in Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876 (1883).
See Also
- Convoy ambush near Atoë (21 March 1876)
- Night attack on Atoë Noord (22-23 March 1876)
- Majoor J. Visser
- Atoeh
- Guerilla warfare in Groot-Atjeh
Source
Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876, door H. F. Meijer (Breda: P. B. Nieuwenhuijs, 1883), chapter VII, pp. 147–151.