W. V. Rhemrev was a Netherlands-Indies officer of the Korps Maréchaussée, knight of the Militaire Willems-Orde 4th class for the suppression of the 1905 revolt in the Gajo and Alas lands, later an organiser of the Indië Weerbaar movement, co-founder of the Vereeniging Nederlandsch-Indische Jaarbeurs, and suppressor of the communist rising on Sumatra’s Westkust in 1926. The 1930 Maréchaussée jubilee number carried a portrait notice of his career.
Education and commissioning
Rhemrev received his education at the former Gymnasium Willem III at Weltevreden and at the Koninklijke Militaire Academie at Breda. In 1902 he became an officer.
Karo plateau and the Gajo-Alas revolt
In 1904 he received an honourable mention (eervolle vermelding) for his military operations on the Karo plateau.
In 1905 he quelled the revolt that broke out after the famous march of Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. E. van Daalen through the Gajo and Alas lands, and was decorated for it with the Militaire Willems-Orde 4th class. The register of honours in the same issue records the award under 1906, to 2e Luit. Mar. W. V. Rhemrev.
Because Rhemrev had at that time been levensgevaarlijk — mortally dangerously — wounded, he was declared unfit for active service; but at the request of Governor-General J. B. van Heutsz and of Colijn he continued to serve.
The Albanian episode
When the Prins von Wied at that period asked for Maréchaussée officers for Albania, Rhemrev at once made himself available. Only officers from Holland were, however, designated; they went to Albania under the command of Kolonel Thomson, who later fell.
Indië Weerbaar and public life
In 1917 Rhemrev went to Holland with a deputation as organiser of the Indië Weerbaar (“Defensible Indies”) movement.
He was co-founder of the Vereeniging Nederlandsch-Indische Jaarbeurs (Netherlands-Indies Trade Fair Association), and through his intervention four million guilders were raised by trade and industry in the Netherlands for the establishment of the Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng.
Sumatra’s Westkust, 1926
In 1926 Rhemrev was sent to Sumatra’s West Coast, and shortly after his arrival the communist rising broke out there, which he managed to suppress by vigorous action. The Landvoogd sent him a telegram of congratulation, and he received his third decoration: appointment as Officer in the Orde van Oranje-Nassau with the swords. At the same time he was placed on the army reserve.
Later career
At the time of the 1930 jubilee Rhemrev was director of the building company De Rijzende Zon, and also took part in the exploitation of the new rubber-tapping method recently devised by Jules Bosch.
See Also
- Dempen van den opstand in de Gajo- en Alaslanden (1905)
- Communistische opstand ter Sumatra’s Westkust (1926-1927)
- Indië Weerbaar
- Vereeniging Nederlandsch-Indische Jaarbeurs
- Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng
- Prins von Wied
- Korps Maréchaussée te voet in Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden
- G. C. E. van Daalen
Source
Het Korps Maréchaussée in Atjeh: De Atjehsche Garde, 1890 - 2 April 1930, Extra Jubileum-nummer of Het Nieuws van den Dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië issued for the fortieth anniversary of the corps (1930), pp. 1-16. Offprint DLP-143, Bibliotheek KITLV, accession 621 116 794.