Beradin was a mountain pass in the interior of Acheh used by Dutch forces during the 1875–1876 campaign. The right‑hand column received orders to move through Beradin toward Koth before entering the Glitaroem pass.
As described in Kruisheer’s ATJEH ‘96, Beradin was also a valley and gorge between Tjot Tjako and Beradin in the IV and VI Moekims theatre, and a major scene of action from 23 May to 25 May 1896 and again on 4 June 1896. The 9e Bataljon covered the Dutch retreat through the valley of Beradin on 25 May 1896, the eastern ridge of the valley was the objective of the 23 May 1896 aanval (attack), and the valley of Beradin was the site of the 4 June 1896 maréchaussée engagement in which Toekoe Hoesin Long Bata was killed. The valley of Beradin was also reached by the maréchaussée via Glé Taroempas on 22 June 1896.
Tactical Significance (1875–1876 campaign)
The pass allowed the Dutch to flank enemy positions and advance into the IX Moekims region.
Description and Location (ATJEH ‘96 account)
Beradin and its valley lay in the IV and VI Moekims theatre between the mountain of Tjot Tjako on the south and the kampong of Beradin on the north. The valley of Beradin (also Vallei van Beradin) was a gorge running east-west through the mountainous country that separated the IV and VI Moekims from the inland gebergte (mountain range). The eastern ridge of the valley was the objective of the 23 May 1896 aanval, and was attacked by the 5e compagnie of the 12e Bataljon. The fortification at the south-east corner of Beradin was an artillery position. The valley of Beradin was bounded on the south by the slopes of Tjot Tjako (with its heilig graf — holy grave) and Glé Genting (with its own heilig graf and wachtposten — sentry posts), and on the north by the kampong of Beradin itself. The Glé Taroempas mountain pass gave access to the valley of Beradin from the east.
Historical Background (ATJEH ‘96 account)
Beradin had been part of Teuku Umar’s defensive stelling across the IV and VI Moekims throughout the period 1893–1896. The valley of Beradin formed the eastern boundary of Umar’s stelling, with the eastern ridge being the objective of the principal Dutch aanval on 23 May 1896. The fortification at the south-east corner of Beradin was an artillery position of Umar’s stelling. The Glé Taroempas mountain pass gave access to the valley of Beradin from the east, and was the route by which the maréchaussée entered the valley on 22 June 1896.
Role in the 1896 Operations (ATJEH ‘96 account)
The valley of Beradin was a major scene of action throughout the first semester of 1896. On 23 May 1896 the eastern ridge of the valley was the objective of the principal Dutch aanval of the three-day Dutch offensive: the 5e compagnie of the 12e Bataljon fought through the valley of Beradin toward the eastern ridge, supported by the bergcolonne (mountain column) on Tjot Tjako and the 9e Bataljon against Lam-Asan. On 25 May 1896 the 9e Bataljon covered the Dutch retreat through the valley of Beradin — the closing action of the three-day offensive. On 4 June 1896 the two-colonne operation into the IV and VI Moekims included a maréchaussée engagement in the valley of Beradin in which Toekoe Hoesin Long Bata was killed — a notable Dutch operational success. On 22 June 1896 a maréchaussée column under Luitenant Vuijkk crossed Glé Taroempas and descended into the valley of Beradin from the east, reaching the valley in the course of the operations that culminated in the Ladoeng landing and Glé Broeë attack. The versterking bij den Z. O. hoek van Beradin (fortification at the south-east corner of Beradin) was an Achehnese artillery position attacked in the course of these operations.
Significance (ATJEH ‘96 account)
The valley of Beradin was the principal geographic obstacle of the IV and VI Moekims theatre and the scene of the most-sustained combat of the three-day Dutch offensive. Its eastern heuvelrug (ridge) was the objective of the principal Dutch aanval on 23 May 1896, and the 9e Bataljon’s covering of the Dutch retreat through the valley on 25 May 1896 was the closing action of the offensive. The death of Toekoe Hoesin Long Bata in the valley of Beradin on 4 June 1896 removed one of the most-dangerous Achehnese war-leaders of the period.
See Also
- Glitaroem
- Koth
- Major Diepenheim
- Battle of Daroe
- Three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896
- Operations in IV and VI Moekims (4–5 June 1896)
- T. Hoesin Lhongbatta
- Glé Taroempas
- Tjot Tjako
- Glé Genting
- IV en VI Moekims
- Ladoeng Landing and Glé Broeë Attack (22–23 June 1896)
- J. W. C. Vuijkk
- Lam-Asan
- Teuku Umar
- 1896
Source
Verslagen der Marine‑Vereeniging III 1889‑1890, pp. 229‑233. 20260707_232246_DLP-55-De_geschiedenis_van_het_Nederlandsche_Korps_Mariniers_van_1665_1945_OCR.txt, pages 138‑141.
ATJEH ‘96, door A. Kruisheer, Kapitein der Infanterie O.I.L., met 2 kaarten en 4 portretten (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913). Instituut Kern, Leiden. OCR-filename: 20260715_163243_DLP-89-Atjeh_96_Met_2_kaarten_en4_DOORA_KRUISHEER_Kapiteinder_Infanterie_nemoretriever-ocr-v1_OCR.txt, pp. 145, 175, 182, 187–188, 192, 200, 213, 227–228, 235, 321.