KNIL (Royal Netherlands Indies Army)

World War II Other Military Units
#101

Welcome to the forum Burghout,

My late mother had a similar background to your mother. She was also young (9 years old) when the Japanese invaded Java. Her family also moved to Holland during the post war period. She immigrated to the USA in 1957 under President Eisenhower’s program for displaced persons (DP’s) from WWII. She married my American father in 1958.

We have a thread here that relates to the Dutch East Indies (present day Indonesia):

KNIL (Royal Netherlands Indies Army)
http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2936

Various websites and images relating to the Netherlands East Indies and the KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger or Royal Netherlands Indies Army), the Dutch colonial army in the Netherlands East Indies (present day Indonesia).

All the Best,

George

#102

Hi Robin,

A little on Ft. Merari: (two 40mm anti-aircraft guns were posted there)

KNIL Artillery in 1942
BY STELLAN BOJERUD
http://www.overvalwagen.com/KNILartillery.html

2nd AA Btn (A II Ld) at Soerabaja
Fort Menari 2-40 mm
Fort Tjowek 2-40 mm
Fort Piring 2-40 mm
Fort Moedong 2-40 mm, 2-20 mm, 2-12,7 mm MG
Batoe Porong 4-80 mm
Kampong Dawir 4-80 mm
Perak Airbase 4-105 mm, 4-40 mm
Monokrembang AFB 2-20 mm

I have seen references to Fort Ngawi and Fort Van den Bosch in East-Java near Surabaya.

De Ruyter class cruiser
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Ruyter_class_cruiser

http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/DeRuyter1.htm

http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Photo_ruyter.htm

http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/

Battle of the Java Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Java_Sea

Second Battle of the Java Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_the_Java_Sea

The Java Sea Campaign
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/index.html

Battle of the Java Sea: 27 February 1942
http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/battles/java_sea.htm

The Java Sea Battle
http://www.geocities.com/dutcheastindies/java_sea.html

Battle of the Java Sea
http://www.awm.gov.au/alliesinadversity/japanese/java.asp

Order of Battle - Battle of the Java Sea - 27-28 February 1942
http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Java-Sea.htm

The Fall of the Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942
http://www.historyanimated.com/DutchEastIndiesPage.html
Animation:
http://www.historyanimated.com/DutchEastIndies.html

The Japanese Invasion of the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, and Southeast Asia
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/USSBS/PTO-Campaigns/USSBS-PTO-3.html

Battle of Java (1942)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Java_(1942)

The conquest of Java Island, March 1942
http://www.geocities.com/dutcheastindies/java.html

The End in Java
http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/20/chapters/22.pdf

Soerabaja (Surabaya)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surabaya


1897 map

Surabaya Tourism
http://wikitravel.org/en/Surabaya
http://www.eastjava.com/tourism/surabaya/

Satellite Map by Google Earth
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-7.288399,112.743073&spn=0.166014,0.234180&t=k&hl=en

Battle of Surabaya (post-WWII)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Surabaya

I wish you continued success on your blog/biography about your grandfather. :slight_smile:

All the Best,

George

#103

VIDEOS:

Colonial Dutch Army 1939 - in color
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YQsftmLO6Lk

Features: Governor General Jhr. Mr. A.W.L. van Starkenborgh Stachouwer (formally Commander-in-Chief of the NEI Armed Forces) and his wife, Stadswacht Batavia - Townwatch Batavia (modern day Jakarta) similar to home guard or militia unit, armored cars, Brewster Buffalo fighter planes of the NEI air force, and Dutch naval ships on maneuvers.

Original Title: Coveted East Indies
Director: Deane Dickason
Editor: Falkonungu (2007)
Production date: ca. 1938-39

This film appears MOS, but originally had sound and was produced and narrated by the radio world travel radio commentator Deane Dickason. Interesting silent portrait of cultural life in the East Indies during Dutch colonialism.
PA8530 Coveted East Indies, The 16mm Koda travelogue, 2 reels, ca. 1938-39

This item is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Colonial Dutch-Indies (1938-39 in colour) [Part 1 of 4]
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pWFeVQoVy1s

Colonial Dutch-Indies (1938-39 in colour) [Part 2 of 4]
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fqENNzU5lLw

Colonial Dutch-Indies (1938-39 in colour) [Part 3 of 4]
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jl1pJssdpu0

Colonial Dutch-Indies (1938-39 in colour) [Part 4 of 4]
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=luMGXq2mrY8

Original Title: Coveted East Indies
Director: Deane Dickason
Production date: ca. 1938-39

A public-domain footage I found on www.archive.org - thought better share it here!

These are scenes from the latter years of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia - and it appears much of the footage has been shot around 1938-39.

Some interesting scenes of Menteng.
The footage is full of street scenes, colonial lifestyles and ‘orientalist’ landscapes.

http://www.archive.org/details/coveted_east_indies_1

This film appears MOS, but originally had sound and was produced and narrated by the radio world travel radio commentator Deane Dickason. Interesting silent portrait of cultural life in the East Indies during Dutch colonialism.
PA8530 Coveted East Indies, The 16mm Koda travelogue, 2 reels, ca. 1938-39

This item is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Deane Dickason
Audio/Visual: Si, color

BATAVIA 1939
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1syhnagy2iE

Original Title: Coveted East Indies
Director: Deane Dickason
Editor: Falkonungu (2007)
Production date: ca. 1938-39

Interesting color portrait of BATAVIA in the East Indies during Dutch colonialism.

PA8530 Coveted East Indies, The 16mm Koda travelogue, 2 reels, ca. 1938-39

This item is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives.

The Fall of Java Island, March 1942 Dutch East Indies
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qlT2UTsDgkg

Koninklijk Nederlandsch Indisch Leger KNIL
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu9YspavVXw

7 December Divisie Nederlands Indie
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9qrB5ygJo

1e divisie 7 december Nederlands Indie
Filmbeelden van de Nederlandse inzet in Nederlands Indie 1946-1950

1e Politionele Actie Nederlands Indie 1947
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u5-APHxW7-E

De zaak-Aernout (wapensmokkel en moord in Nederlands-Indië)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=W7NxCttKnsg

Indonesia 1940 pre war oud Indië.KNIL.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eBSeAFLw9jY

Kurkdjian Come to Java 1922-23 Dutch East Indies Photography
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UvAuQs8EDPs

Old Jakarta 1919
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tKQcVyAlKSE
City was known as Batavia in those days.

1652 Van Riebeeck
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0cZehTAy-E0

1652 - Jan van Riebeeck stig 'n verversingspos aan die Kaap

Johan Anthoniszoon “Jan” van Riebeeck (21 April 1619–18 January 1677), was a Dutch colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town. He was born in Culemborg in the Netherlands as the son of a surgeon. He grew up in Schiedam, where he married Maria Cotze on 28 March 1649. (She died in Malacca, now part of Malaysia, on 2 November 1664, at the age of 35). The couple had eight sons, one of whom, Abraham van Riebeeck, would become a Governor-General of Dutch East Indies.

Joining the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1639, he served in a number of posts, including that of an assistant surgeon in the Batavia in the East Indies. He subsequently visited Japan. His most important position was that of head of the VOC trading post in Tonkin, Vietnam. However, he was called back from this post as it was discovered that he was conducting trade for his own account.

In 1651 he was requested to undertake the command of the initial Dutch settlement in the future South Africa. He landed three ships Drommedaris, Reijger and Goede Hoop at the future Cape Town on 6 April 1652 and fortified the site as a way-station for the VOC trade route between the Netherlands and the East Indies.

Van Riebeeck was Commander of the Cape from 1652 to 1662; he was charged with building a fort, with improving the natural anchorage at Table Bay, planting fruit and vegetables and obtaining livestock from the indigenous Khoi people. In the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town there is a wild almond hedge still surviving that was planted on his orders as a barrier. The initial fort was made of mud, clay and timber, and had four corners or bastions. This first fort should not be confused with the present-day Cape Town Castle. The Castle, built between 1666 and 1679, several years after Van Riebeeck’s departure, has five bastions and is made of brick, stone and cement.

Van Riebeeck reported the first comet discovered from South Africa, C/1652 Y1, which was spotted on December 17, 1652.

He died in Batavia (now renamed Jakarta) on the island of Java in 1677.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Belofte maakt schuld Deel 1
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mjYCgTyBmoQ

Waarom Huil Je Toch Nona Manis
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8tCcK-_W0
Performed by Rudi van Dalm and his Raindrops.
Old song from the Dutch East Indies - my mom used to like this song.

Other variations:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lqIn_YOIgHY
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hasw0EJSbwk
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-b2cZHixLvU
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uMUMHqOYqL0

Manise, Manise
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PTwWciAfQQc
Another old song from the Dutch East Indies.

Other variations:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nkYWJNP1BAo
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kLXc2RYCZFk

#104

intresting footage keep posting

#105

De Ruyter was a beautiful ship! I have a picture of an American cruiser that called in Indonesia during the 30s, taken, I believe, by my father who then lived at the Zuiker Fabriek Tjande, where his English stepfather was the general manager. I thought the ship may have been Dutch but it didn’t look like any Dutch cruiser of the period. I submitted the photo to a naval site, and, incredibly, they identified it in a matter of hours! It was an American cruiser.

#106

Thanks Bear - I’ll see what I can come up with :slight_smile:

Yes, she was a beautiful ship. IIRC, the wrecks of the light cruisers De Ruyter and Java were located in 2002.
There are photos at the Pacific Wrecks website.
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/visitors/denlay.html

Hr Ms De Ruyter
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/HrMs/de_ruyter.html
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/HrMs/de_ruyter/index.html
http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Photo_ruyter.htm

Hr Ms Java
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/HrMs/java.html
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/HrMs/java/index.html

Both were sunk by torpedoes launched from the Japanese heavy cruisers Nachi and Haguro around 11:30 PM, the night of 27 Feb 1942.

http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/battles/java_sea.htm

…These actions cost Doorman his entire destroyer force. Without a screen the four Allied cruisers proceeded north until they were sighted by a lookout on the Nachi at 2302 at a range of 16,000 yards. At this time the Nachi and Haguro were headed south southwest. They swung to the port toward the Allies and assumed a parallel course heading due north. The Allies opened fire at 2310 on the Japanese heavy units. The Japanese didn’t return fire until 2321. At 2322 Nachi launched eight torpedoes, followed one minutes later by Haguro with a salvo of four. The range was approximately 14,000 yards. In contrast to the hundreds of torpedoes launched previously, these told. The De Ruyter was hit aft at 2332 by one of Haguro’s four, exploding her ammunition and killing Doorman along with 344 of his crew. She sank very quickly. Two minutes later one of Nachi’s spread struck Java. She took an hour and a half to sink…

Royal, do you remember which American cruiser was in the photo that your father took in Indonesia during the 1930’s?

#107

Hello Abi,

Welcome to the forum. I hope that this thread and others related to Indonesia under Dutch colonial rule prior to and during World War II has been interesting to you.

All the Best,

George :slight_smile:

#108

KNIL related threads merged.

#109

I’ve just obtained a copy of my grandfather’s Japanese POW camp Index Card (from the first camp he was interned in, in Malang, East Java). The card lists his unit as Infantry VI. Can anyone tell me about this unit and its deployments on Java in 1942? I have an idea it might actually be the 6th Anti-tank, which fought briefly near Malang. My grandfather’s military records seem to show that he received artillery training in addition to infantry (the papers show the abbreviations Inf. and Art. for weapons branches).

  • Robin
#110

Interesting pictures and video. thanks for sharing mate :slight_smile:

#111

The Sky Looked Down, the POW memoir of KNIL sergeant Frank Samethini, has been published as a blog:

http://theskylookeddown.blogspot.com

Among his varied experiences as a POW of the Japanese, Samethini describes working on the infamous Burma Railway, a dangerous sea voyage to Japan, and the devastating B-29 raid on the city of Toyama.

Excerpt:

Railroad: A word which most of us in later years will immediately associate with the dull ache of hunger, the stench of festering ulcers, the searing sun. Work gang: The soreness of extreme fatigue, the sting of the smack in the face, the pain of the kick on the shin, the rifle butt in the back. Railroad: The ultimate in hardship, the end of the fall. Whatever hope we had in the preceding years, in the Java and Singapore camps, has fled into nothingness. All the horror written about slavery in books of history and fiction has leaped out of the pages to engulf and consume us, in a never ending hell passing from one day to another. But as history shows, all the brutality in the world cannot halt the will to survive. The rags we wear, what meagre possessions we have tucked away in frayed rucksacks, our very lives, all of that is owned by the Japanese. But the rumours, improbable as they may sound, are ours. Ours to be passed on in whispers and listened to hungrily. Yes, the rumours are ours. And the unsquashable, incredible sense of humour, witty and often biting, that too is ours, that also the Japanese cannot take away. For the rumours and sense of humour are an essential part of the spirit to carry us through until victory is ours, or until death has stilled our lips.

#112

Wow, I just ended up on this forum through a Google search and there’s a wealth of information here.
I am trying to find more information about the KNIL in general and more in specific anything relating to my grandfathere (E.M.W. Bopp). He was stationed in Dilli/Timor in 1942 as a 1st sergeant (sergeant 1ste klas) in the Infantry (infanterie) I have been unable to determine his exact unit but am working on this. His was a training/drill sergeant or instructor. My grandmother and her family were living near Djogjakarta at the time.
His unit took part in the battle of Timor but when they were ordered to surrender he and some of members of his unit decided to try to evade to the southside of the island with the intention of finding means to get to Australia. Apparently while crossing the interior of the island they were attacked by either Japanese troops or the local insurgents. He was shot in the stomach and as he was slowing their further escape down he convinced the other “escapees” to leave him behind. That is basically the last sighting of him. He was declared MIA and later KIA. My grandmother and her 5 children survived the war outside the camps and were repatriated to the Netherlands after the war.
I have very little further information about him but know that my grandmother went to visit one of the guys from his unit in Denver (USA) and that’s where she found out about the escape story.
I’m interested in finding out more background on him (my grandfather), what unit he could have served in etc.
Also interested to see, on the off-chance, if there is anyone here who knows this story, maybe from a different perspective…

Evert.

#113

He probably wasn’t stationed in Dili. The western part of Timor was the Dutch part and the eastern part was Portuguese. Dili was the capital of the Portuguese part.

The remnants of an Australian force known as Sparrow Force crossed into Portuguese Timor with attached Dutch troops after the main part of Sparrow Force surrendered to the Japanese in 1942 after the Japanese invaded both parts of Timor.

It sounds like your grandfather might have been part of that Dutch force.

Wiki ain’t my favourite source but this page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Timor#Dutch_Timor will give you some information about the Dutch forces under van Straten which crossed into Portuguese Timor. Odds are that your grandfather was in one of the units under van Straten.

You might be able to find more about your grandfather from Dutch sources on van Straten’s force or perhaps from Australian sources on the Australian units involved in Timor.

#114

You could possibly be right as I am trying to piece together the story from the few available pieces of information.
Available records list August 11th 1942 as the date he was killed on but I have my doubts about the accuracy of that.
I’ve requested a copy of his service record hoping that this will provide some more clarity.

Evert.

#115

That date fits with the Japanese counter-attacks against the remaining Allied forces in Timor, and particularly against the Dutch forces in the centre of the island.

#116

That was the conclusion I had come to also…
You seem to have a wealth of knowledge on the subject :slight_smile:

#117

Nah, I know a bit about the Australian involvement and where to look on that, but I don’t know anything about the Dutch involvement beyond what I’ve posted which is essentially related to the Australian involvement.

The Dutch tend to be overlooked in English-speaking histories of the war with Japan but they fought a good fight and continued to make a very useful air, naval and merchant naval contribution after they were defeated in the NEI. Especially in the early dangerous days in 1942-43 when their forces added critical resources to the Allied cause.

I assume that the Dutch would have some veterans’ or other associations and or historical societies which could give you the information you’re seeking.

I suspect that if you could read Dutch or could find someone who does you’d be able to find a lot more information on Dutch sites.

#118

I’m born & bred Dutch but have been living in Ireland for a while now. I am sure that there are some veterans organisations but the trouble is finding the right ones and getting into contact with them.
Thanks for your help though, it’s very much appreciated.

Evert.

P.S. What time is it in Australia at the moment? :slight_smile:

#119

1.09 a.m, which should relate to whatever time stamp appears on this post.

It is approximately 20 years earlier in New Zealand, and about a century earlier in Tasmania which is not really part of Australia. :smiley:

#120

LOL, good one!