RESTORING THE MUSEUM'S TREASURE

A number of staffs wearing white laboratory robed and green mask were caring for a collection of miniature traditional houses of Dayak Borneo, patiently. The collections are very dry and brittle. They lifted the dust by brushing the roof carefully, and then wipe it with a white cloth. Some of them tighten or repair the wooden wall of Batak Toba traditional house. The museum’s doctors work in the aisle between huge displays of miniature Nusantara’s traditional houses, our archipelago.

"We always monitoring the environmental conditions of the collection periodically," said Ita Yulita a conservation staff of the National Museum of Jakarta, "However, we also take immediate action and emergency, such as custom improvements like this case because the conditions are very bad."

The National Museum has collection of 125 miniature traditional houses made of wood, bamboo, rattan, fibers, and reeds. These miniatures were made with care and similar to the original, complete with fences, stairs, window shapes, and custom decorations. It seems to have inhabited since the beginning of the 20th century so that this heritage should be treated the cause of damage such as dust, temperature, humidity, insects, and termites.

There should be a special education background to the team preservation in Indonesia. However, according to Yulita, the conservation study is only in the courses of the department of archeology, or specialization in the study program. So far, the team gained experience with the following education and training for conservation both within the country and abroad. "Actually, if people knew, working in this museum is interesting. People seem to we only to clean up the collection, but there is actually a science to it," said Yulita convincing.

The National Museum cooperates with institutions abroad such as the conservation of inter-governmental organizations with recognized expertise in training, capacity building, and networking. For example, COLLASIA (Conserving Heritage Collections in Southeast Asia), ICCROM (International Centre for Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) , and SEAMEO-SPAFA (Regional Centre for Archeology). "I am currently studying the microclimate for the showcases," said Yulita COLLASIA matter of training applications "about the humidity and temperature settings, and the treatment."

The most threatened collection subject to temperature and humidity are wood, paper and textiles. Then, Yulita learns how to make a careful comparison between the area of shelf space and the use of silica gel. "If it was too much, it will make a dry shelf space so collection being crushed or broken. Conversely, when it was too little, it will lead to a damp condition of shelf space."

"We always keep conserving for each object uniquely," she said, "Subject to limited tools and materials, it also enables us to lead a new approach in conservation." Like a doctor, conservationist does not have a recipe that works for all diseases. The passion, according to Yulita, is to preserve, while their action depends on the case of damage, type of object, and material.

There is one of the most memorable experience for Yulita  as conservationist. It happened when she conducted the conservation of Gaja Dumpak, a sword of Sisingamangaraja XII. It has been the museum's collection since 1907. The atmosphere as usual until a few people who claim descent from that King Tapanuli arrived in the conservation room and desire to watch the sword of their ancestors. "They cried when see this sword, tremble and humming the Batak songs," recalls Yulita, "We're thrilled and proud; finally we also help them as gathering their missing family."

THE GERRIT WILLEM CASIMIR VAN MOTMAN'S FAMILY GRAVE AT DJAMBOE

The Mausoleum of Pieter Reinier van Motman
Third Landlord, 1838-1911




ON MISSION

The morning dawn of June 2011, we travel across part of the former country land that owned by van Motman family in Tjikoleang, Roempin, Tjampea, Sadeng, Dramaga, and Djamboe. We also have the plan to explore the nearly forgotten historical site of Gerrit Willem Casimir’s family graveyard in Sibanteng, Afdeling Djamboe about 30 kilometers from Buitenzorg. He was the landlord and the man behind the Daendels’ Grootepostweg–roads and postal services in Java–across the Preanger uplands in 1808-1810.

On this graveyard, there were 40 persons have been buried in 39 burial spots–pillar tombstones and mausoleum. However, since the van Motman family left Indonesia in 1958, this family graveyard is neglected: marble plaques were plundered and corpses in mausoleum were disappeared!

MAP OF DJAMBOE-LEUWISADENG


The red point shows the location of the family grave
"Toeristenkaart van West-Java"
Batavia, Officieele vereeniging voor toeristenverkeer, 1932.
Source: Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, Amsterdam.


The red point shows the location of the family grave
"Leuwiliang"
Herzien door den Topografische dienst in 1920-1923
Blad 36/XXXVIIIA
West-Java 1940
Source: Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, Amsterdam.



THE VAN MOTMAN'S LAND


About 12.596 hectares in Nanggoeng in 1880
Land owned by van Motman family near Buitenzorg.
Photograph by Isidore van Kinsbergen
Source: Geheugen van Nederland

Total lands owned by van Motman family in
Buitenzorg and its surroundings were 117.099 hectares!
There were...
Semplak, Kedong Badak, Roempin, Tjikoleang, Trogong, Dramaga, Tjampea, Settlement Djamboe, Nangoeng, Bolang, Djasinga, Pondok Gedeh, Pasar Langkap and Rosa in the Gunung Preanger, also Tjikandi Ilir and Tjikandi Oedik in Bantam.

Those lands were cultivated as plantation:coffee, tea, kina, rubber, sugar cane, and rice



___________________________________________





PAST AND PRESENT


The van Motman's Family Grave in 1920's
Source: Tropenmuseum


The van Motman's Family Grave in 2011

___________________________________________




THE CUSTODIAN


Ucup Sumarna
The fifty-nine years old custodian of van Motman family grave.
He is officially appointed by Heritage Preservation Board since 2011.
Born in Jakarta, but his ancestors are from Leuwisadeng, Djamboe.

THE MANDOR (CUSTODIANS):

ELLIAS
He was a well-known fighter with magical powers.
Appointed by Gerrit Willem van Motman.

JIPRO
Ellias has no son, so the next custodian held by his brother, Jipro.

MUSTAFA
He was Jipro's son-in-law.

HAJI MUGENI BIN MUSTAFA
He was son of Mustafa. Haji Mugeni was Ucup's grand grand father.

HAJI SUMATRA
He was Ucup's father. He serviced to the family graveyard 1952-1973.
Haji Sumatra received a salary from Mrs. Pauline Elise Laurince Marie, the Motman offspring who living at Landhuis Dramaga.
Nobody to take care of this family graveyard since she left Indonesia in 1958.
Later, many marbles, tombstones, gate, even the corpses inside the mausoleum were plundered.
Since Haji Sumatra was died, more than 30 years this family graveyard are neglected and plundered.


___________________________________

THE ANCESTOR:
GERRIT WILLEM CASIMIR VAN MOTMAN



Born at Gennep, 11 January 1773
Died at Dramaga, 25 May 1821
Source: Stichting Van Motman FamilieArchief




Jacoba Reiniera Bangeman
(Gerrit W. Casimir's Wife)
Born at Batavia, 6 November 1778
Died at Dramaga, 9 Februay 1860
Source: Stichting Van Motman FamilieArchief



SHORT BIOGRAPHY
GERRIT WILLEM CASIMIR VAN MOTMAN

1791:
Temporary administrator in Grain Warehouse of VOC
(East Warehouse)

1793:
Married Anna Apollonia Jens. The marriage was not successful.
Five years later they separated.

1794:
Member of the Masonic Lodge "La Vertueuse" in Batavia.

1795:
Ensign and adjutant of the administrative officers corps of the VOC)

1797:
Temporary administrator in the iron store in Batavia
Administrator of the Coffee Depot at Buitenzorg

1798:
Underliutenant of VOC

1800:
Administrator of the Iron Warehouse in Batavia
Appointed as leutenant and then captain.

1801:
Administrator of Provision Warehouse

1805:
Merchant in VOC

1806:
Major in VOC

1808:
Chief merchant in VOC

1808:
Provisional committed on the business of the native

1808:
With his wife, accompany Herman Willem Daendels to Semarang.
Appointed as Senior Merchant.
The Jacatrasche Preanger and uplands and Commissioner of Roads and Postal Services in Java.
Accompanied Daendels in his crackdown against the Sultan of Bantam.

1809:
First committed to the sugar industry

1809:
Married Jacoba Reiniera Bangeman. However, Casimir and Reiniera had twelve years and wait for official permission for the dissolution of their first marriages. They married in 1809 but lived together for many years before.
That marriage took place at Buitenkerk and the mansion of Petrus Wilhelmus Helvetius van Riemsdijk on Molenvliet, Batavia.

1810:
Second external examiner on the rice culture.

1816:
Resident of the Preanger regencies

1820:
Board member orphan estate in Batavia.





Landhuis Dramaga, consisting of 20 extra bedrooms.
Gerrit Willem Casimir bought Dramaga around 1813.
Dramaga was well known for its `Liberia-coffee plantations
that belonged a long time to the most beautiful and most fruit-bearing of Java.
Now this mansion is owned by Bogor Agricultural University (IPB)


“The house on Dramaga is splendid, blank marble and white walls all over the place; in the front veranda one has a splendid view on the Salak and everything looks very cheerful.
There is a large swimming pool where the water flows in with an enormous jet and it is drained away through an opening on the other side.”
Cateau Kerkhoven in 1867

___________________________________








THE MAUSOLEUM
PIETER REINIER VAN MOTMAN

Pieter Reinier was born at Dramaga 23 November 1850 and died at Davos 25 April 1911, third landlord of Dramaga. The mausoleum adopted the Neo-Classical architecture, built in early 20th century.
The gate at the time was an iron door.
Inside the mausoleum, both the left and right wall are two tomb doors fitted and 12 iron rings.

















THE FAMILY GRAVE












Searching the Landlords






________________________________________

THE VAN MOTMAN FAMILY WHO WAS BURIED IN DJAMBOE

Based on “Genealogische en heraldische gedenkwaardigheden betreffende Europeanen op Java”
by P.C. Bloys van Treslong Prins that published in 1934,
there are 40 persons who burried in 39 sites.


1. DAUGHTER: Sophia Wilhelmina, *Semarang 21-04-1808, † 21-03-1812
2. SON: Gerrit Willem Casimir Jr, * Batavia 24-04-1810, † 18-11-1812
3. SON: Theodorus Petrus, *Batavia 21-05-1811, † 21-03-1812
4. DAUGHTER: Nonnetje, *Sadeng Jamboe 21-05-1811, † 22-05-1814
5. DAUGHTER: Sophia Cornelia, *Sadeng Jamboe 26-06-1813, † 28-10-1814
6. SON: Theodorus Frederik, *Sadeng Jamboe 10-06-1814, † 30-08-1815
7. Gerrit Willem Casimir Sr, *Gennep 11-01-1773, † Dramaga 25-05-1821
8. Gerrit Willem Casimir, *Nanggoeng 02-07-1826, † 02-09-1831
9. Wilhelmina, *Nanggoeng 14-10-1842, † 20-03-1844
10. Pieter Holle, *Oostcapelle 1814, † Bolang 1845
11. SON (BRANCH A): Willem Reinier, *Batavia 04-09-1802, † Batavia 23-12-1848
12. Frederik Hendrik Constant van Slooten, *Batavia 29-10-1848, † Buitenzorg 07-04-1849
13. Anna Louise Quentin, *Toeban 23-09-1828, † Buitenzorg 13-09-1855
14. Maria Jacoba Reiniera, *Djamboe 14-01-1855, † 23-04-1858
15. August Frederik Hendrik, *Dramaga 27-08-1857, † 06-05-1858
16. Jacoba Reiniera Bangeman, *Batavia 06-11-1778, † Dramaga 09-02-1860
17. Paulina Wilhelmina Augusta Wolterbeek, *15-12-1860, † 12-04-1862
18. SON (BRANCH D): Jan Casimir Theodorus, *Tjiandjoer 02-04-1819, † Tjikoleang 04-12-1865
19. Pieter Johannes Folkert ten Cate, *Batavia 21-08-1830, † Tjampea 01-05-1872
20. Cornelie Charlotte, *Nanggoeng 14-03-1845, † Semplak 07-01-1875
21. Frederik Hendrik Constant, *Batavia 03-04-1853, † Djamboe 15-07-1875
22. Johanna Adeline, *Leuwiliang 26-07-1874, † Buitenzorg 14-10-1875
23. Jacoba Djiëm, *Tangerang 16-07-1826, † Djamboe 14-08-1877
24. Amalia Alphonsine, *Leuwiliang 22-04-1878, † Leuwiliang 23-06-1878
25. Louis Constant, *Djasinga 30-10-1879, † Djasinga 18-10-1883
26. Petronella Rosalia Aldonse van Swieten, *Amsterdam 20-11-1815, † Dramaga 03-07-1888
27. Catherina Johanna Frederika ten Cate, *Batavia 07-10-1855, † Buitenzorg 22-10-1888
28. R.H.L.A. van Oosterhoudt-Schönermarck, *Malakka 18-11-1823, † Dramaga 10-10-1888
29. SON (BRANCH B): Frederik Hendrik Constant, *Pondok Gedeh 21-07-1809, † Tadjoer 19-09-1889
30. Rudolf Jacob Johan, *Batavia 23-01-1880, † Dramaga 18-09-1899
31. SON (BRANCH C): Jacob GerritTheodoor, *Wanajassa 19-11-1816, † Dramaga 20-09-1890
32. Willem Reinier, *Djamboe 19-02-1833, † Tjampea 30-12-1890
33. Wilhelmina (Tan Nieo), *1804, † Buitenzorg 05-03-1900
34. Frederika Constantina, *Djamboe 29-01-1831, † Buitenzorg 19-11-1905
35. SON (BRANCH E): Pieter Cornelis, *Batavia 10-09-1820, † Sadeng Jamboe 26-03-1902
36. Reinier Jacob, *Dramaga 29-03-1846, † Leuwiliang 12-08-1904
37. Daughter of Frederik Reinier en Sophia Cornelia, † Tjampea 30-11-1906
38. Pieter Reinier, *Dramaga 23-11-1850, † Davos (Switzerland) 25-04-1911
39. Pauline Elise Laurence Kleyn, *Batavia 19-11-1855, † Batavia 29-06-1915
40. Paul Carolus Piet, *Dramaga 27-07-1892, † Den Haag 01-10-1919




Gerrit Willem Casimir and Reiniera Jacoba Bangeman probably had 13 children,
the first three were born before the marriage.
Eight children died at a young age.

Children were Buried in Djamboe:
Sophia Wilhelmina (3 years, 11 months); Gerrit Willem Casimir Jr (2 years, 7 months); Theodorus Petrus (10 months); Nonnetje (3 years); Sophia Cornelia (1 year, 4 months); Theodorus Frederik (1 year, 2 months).

Thus, Gerrit Willem Casimir was the first adult who was buried in Djamboe.

Children were buried at Kerkhof Tanah Abang:
Maria Henrieta, *Batavia 22 July 1806, † Batavia 5 December 1811
Petrus Wilhelmus, *Djamboe 10 June 1814, † Paalmerah 18 October 1815.


The remaining their five sons who had the destiny as the ancestors of van Motman branches:
Willem Reinier (1802-1848), Frederick Henry Constant (1809-1889), Gerrit Jacob Theodoor (1816-1890), Jan Theodore Casimir (1819-1865), and Pieter Cornelis (1820-1902).


________________________________________


WHO ARE THE TWO PERSONS INSIDE THE MAUSOLEUM?

We don't know about two person who preserved inside the mausoleum.
They are disappeared, may be plundered.
But, I think they are Pieter Reinier and Paul Carolus Piet
because these persons died outside the Netherlands Indies (Davos and Den Haag).
If the information from P.C. Bloys van Treslong Prins was right,
their corpses must be preserved in order to buried in to this family graveyard.
What about your opinion?

_______________________________________



REFERENCE
"Kampus IPB Darmaga, Suatu Warisan" -KOMPAS 27 Juni 1991

Stichting Van Motman Familie Archief
http://www.familievanmotman.nl/index.html

"Kehidupan Sosial di Batavia"
by Jean Gelman taylor.
Published by Masup Jakarta, 2009

"Historical Sites of Jakarta"
by Adolf Heuken, SJ
Published by Cipta Loka Caraka, 2000.

"Gerrit Willem Casimir van Motman"
http://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-hoffman-ondaatje/I5985.php

7 December Division - Netherlands Indies

THE MISSION OF “7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The First Division "7 December” was sent to the East Indies in 1946. Their mission was restored “the peace, order and security”. According Royal Dutch, they were planning to Dutch Indies along a gradual path to greater independence, but the declaration of the independent Republic of Indonesia two days after the Japanese capitulation accelerated these events.

Originally, "7 December" was named after Queen Wilhelmina's speech in London on 7th of December 1942:

"I am for, while not on the opinions of the conference that will focus on a government level, which the Netherlands, Indonesia, Suriname and Curacao will share together, while they each in themselves, their own autonomy in internal matters and drawing on its own merits, but would work with each other to stand, will represent.
It will be a difference of treatment based on race or national character is not place, but will have only the personal skills of citizens and the needs of different population groups be crucial for the policy of the Government. "

It could be the statement was influenced about the political background in that period. This was the mandate, which the conscripts of 7 December Division to the Dutch Indies were sent. They were held for the purpose, "the granting of independence to the colonies and eliminating racial discrimination so that all citizens were equal in the great Kingdom of the Netherlands. As the people of very different people would want to self and not a big communist state as Soekarno for had eyes”.


THE EMBLEM “7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The emblem of the “7 December Division” the letters "EM" refers to “Expeditionaire Macht” (Expeditionary Force). This "EM" abbreviation became symbolic of the concept of "Elke Man, Elk Moment" (Every Man, Every Time). The “EM” was separated by the sword from the arms of Batavia (standing upright sword with laurel wreath).

During the Second World War, the emblem of the first division was designed for the future expeditionary force to the fight against Japan. However, after the capitulation of Japan in August 15, 1945 emblem was unnecessary. The emblem was re-introduced by army order in 1946 (for binding) by the future commander of the First Division, Colonel HJJW Durst Britt.





THE TROOPERS
“7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The 7 December Division in India consisted of 18,544 persons of which 880 officers, 1,300 under-officers and 16,364 under-corporal and soldiers. The first commander of “7 December Division” was Major General H.J.J.W. Dürst Britt (1st of September 1946 – 2nd September 1949). Then, the second commander was Major General E.Engles (2nd September 1949 – 25th of April 1950).



THE MILITARY RESOURCES “7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The military resources of “7 December Division” is following below (based on “Wij Werden Geroepen” by Alfred van Sprang and published in 1949, www.7decemberdivisie.nl):

THE COMPOSITION

Division Staff:
1 Division liaison department
1 Battalion AAT (4 comp)
1 Battalion Pioneers
1, 2 and 3 Inf. Brigade Workshop
1 Regiment Light luchtdoelart.
1 Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment
2 Field Artillery Regiment
6 Field Artillery Regiment
8 Field Artillery Regiment
1 Reconnaissance Regiment
1 machine-gun Battalion

Staff 1 Infantry Brigade Group:
3 Garde Grenadiers Regiment
3 Garde Regiment Jagers
3 Guard Regiment Prinses Irene

Staff 2 Infantry Brigade Group:
3-1 Infantry Regiment
3-9 Infantry Regiment
3-12 Infantry Regiment

Staff 3 Infantry Brigade Group
3-2 Infantry Regiment
3-14 Infantry Regiment
3 Shock Troops Regiment

1, 2 and 3 Help Link City Department
1 Field Hospital
Hygiene Group
Dental Company
Arva Division 1
1 and 2 Royal Military Police Company
Division 1 Park Equipment
1 Division of Field Post Section

Security battalions:
3-3 Infantry Regiment (distributed)
3-5 Infantry Regiment (distributed)
3-7 Infantry Regiment (distributed)
3-8 Infantry Regiment (West Java)
3-10 Infantry Regiment (West Java)
3-11 Infantry Regiment (distributed)

Other components, which long-term in West Java:
4-3 Infantry Regiment
4-8 Infantry Regiment
4-10 Infantry Regiment
5-7 Infantry Regiment
Infantry I KNIL
Infantry II KNIL
Fighting vehicles I KNIL

Under temporary command in West Java:
1-11 Infantry Regiment
1-4 Infantry Regiment
2-13 Infantry Regiment
4-11 Infantry Regiment
5-1 Infantry Regiment

Relief in the area, the F-Brigade, consisting of:
401 Infantry Battalion
412 Infantry Battalion
413 Infantry Battalion
41 Field Artillery Regiment



THE ARMAMENT

Light machine guns 1197
Heavy machine guns 36
Piat 421
Twin machine guns 1
2 "mortars 283
3 "mortars 60
4.2 "mortars 16
PAG (62)
9 field guns (72)
Cannons at 8. (24)
Cannons at 8 on motoraffuiten (24)
Cannons 2 tl. - 20 mm (42)
Cannon 4 tl. - 40 mm (54)



THE TRANSPORT

Bicycles (335)
Engines (995)
Cars (90)
Jeeps (380)
Trucks (2043)
Trailers (477)
Carriers (547)
Tractors (175)
Light reconnaissance vehicles (32)
Panzers/metal vehicles - pantservoeruigen (32)
Motoraffuiten (24)
Ambulance Vehicles (48)

SOERABAJA 1900-1950

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	History
Author:	Asia Maior

The luxurious cover describes the twilight at Oedjoeng, with the Tandjoengperak Harbor Office on the far side of the Kali Mas, about 1935.

Soerabaja, as the name of the former Netherlands East Indies' second-largest city, principal port and naval base is nowadays spelt, has a fascinating history. The book opens with an overview of Soerabaja’s urban development from the early colonial period to World War II, ilustrated with rare and mostly previously unpublished maps and drawings from the archives of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and various Netherlands East Indies Government institutions.

There are three major themes which largely determined Soerabaja's increasing prominence in the Netherlands East Indies: the construction and growing economic significance as commercial port of Tandjoengperak, the role of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine-Etablissement (ME), and finally the extensive changes in Soerabaja's townscape resulting from her rapid development into a modern colonial city after 1900.

A Soerabaja photographer, P. Voorn van Wingerden (1893-1971) and his wife as professional assistant, established their Fotax photograph agency which over the years became the largest and most well-known professional photographic studio in East Java. They took photographic record of pre-war Soerabaja totalling over 10,000 negatives and duplicate prints. Unfortunately, only small part of this pictorial treasure has survived. The original Fotax collection was lost early in Japanese occupation, 1943.

It is very large book format (25 x 32 cm), hard-cover binding; 192 pages of full-color printing on wood-free quality paper; 370 historical photographs, drawings, maps and plans; and complete text in English and Dutch.
I bought this book of 35 EUR, not expensive for this fascinating history book which published in 2004. Another exciting book from Asia Maior!

FRAME, Jejak Manusia di Bumi | National Geographic Indonesia

Start:	Oct 20, '11 2:00p
End:	Oct 20, '11 4:00p
Location:	Surabaya

“Populasi” adalah tema besar yang diusung National Geographic Indonesia (NGI) tahun ini. Melalui serangkaian artikel dengan tema terkait populasi sepanjang 2011, NGI berupaya membuka jendela kesadaran kita akan tantangan dan peluang dari pertumbuhan populasi manusia.

Melalui Fotokita Sharing Moment (#FrameFK) edisi 11, kisah-kisah di balik layar pembuatan artikel dan peliputan foto bertema populasi akan dibagi. Diskusi terkait dengan Fotokita Award 2011 juga dibuka. Fotokita Award 2011, sebuah kontes foto yang digelar National Geographic Indonesia dan didukung oleh Canon, yang diharapkan bisa menumbuhkan kesadaran masyarakat Indonesia akan jumlah populasi yang terus meningkat dan dampak-dampaknya.

Pembicara:
Mahandis Yoanata (Penulis, Text Editor majalah National Geographic Indonesia)
Feri Latief (Fotografer, kontributor majalah National Geographic Indonesia)

20 Oktober 2011
Pukul 14:00:00-16:00:00 WIB
Lokasi Acara

Gedung Pasca Sarjana lantai 3 Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November (ITS) Surabaya

Informasi dan pendaftaran online via: http://bit.ly/frameFK11

Informasi Kegiatan:
National Geographic Indonesia
Email : event@nationalgeographic.co.id
FB: http://nationalgeographic.co.id/facebook
Twitter: @fotokitanet & @NGIndonesia

National Geographic Indonesia, National Geographic Traveler, CHIP Photo Video Digital, GFJA, Digital Camera, Hifatlobrain, The Light Magazine, Liga Film ITB, UFO UGM, UKAFO ITS.

THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVE – MENTENG POELO

"You are instructed to proceed with all speed to the island of Java
in the East Indies to accept the surrender of Japanese Imperial Forces
on that island, and to release Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees...
The main landing will be by the British Indian Army, 5th Division,
who have shown themselves to be most reliable since the Battle of El Alamein. Intelligence reports indicate that the landing should be at Surabaya, a location that affords a deep anchorage and repair facilities..."

A Letter from Mountbatten Vice Admiral Supreme Commander S.E. Asia
to G.O.C Imperial Forces

ON MISSION

On 17 August 1945 Indonesian independence was declared in Jakarta. However the Dutch were determined to re-establish colonial rule. Unable to send their own troops to the area, the Dutch requested British assistance. From here, the historical background will begin.

The Mountbatten’s letter to G.O.C. Imperial Forces above gave my imagination back to September 1945 (after the Japanese surrender). That was, The 5th, 23rd, 26th Indian Division and 5th British Parachute Brigade, and in the outer islands by 7th and 9th Australian Divisions have the task of recovering the many thousands of prisoners and internees in Indonesia and disarming and repatriating the large Japanese garrison was undertaken in Java and Sumatra.

Present day, a part of those fallen soldiers of British Indian Army were buried at Djakarta War Cemetery. Tuesday morning 24th of May 2011, I and Youfeta Devy explored this cemetery in Menteng Poelo. The location is adjacent to Ereveld Menteng Poelo. The cemetery is managed by Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), United Kingdom. This is my continuation journey about the war cemetery series in Indonesia. Previously, I have finished my journey to 7 Erevelden in Java (2006-2009) managed by Oorlogsgravenstichting (OGS), The Netherlands.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would express my gratitude to Mrs. Karen Loizou, CWGC Head Office – the Support Services for Outer Area, United Kingdom who gave the permission. Also Pak Setiadi Aripin, Manager of Jakarta War Cemetery who accompany and explain us about the history behind of this cemetery.

MAP MENTENG POELO AND ITS SURROUNDINGS


Note:
The red triangular is the area of the Menteng Poelo public cemetery

Garnizoenkaart "Batavia en Omstreken" (excerpt)
Survey date 1938
Published by batavia Topografische Dienst - 1940
Source: Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen - Nederlands




GROUND PLAN OF THE DJAKARTA WAR CEMETERY


Source:
Commonwealth War Graves Comission - United Kingdom




__________________________________________

THE DJAKARTA WAR CEMETERY

The Cemetery which is open between the hours of 8.00 am and 5.00 pm. Monday to Friday. The Principal gate is on its northern side by a short flight of steps leading into a memorial building.

In 1961 at the request of the Indonesian Government, the Commonwealth dead from the Netherlands Field of Honour at Sourabaya, and from those at Palembang, Medan and Muntok in Sumatra, were brought into the cemetery, which already contained 474 Commonwealth war graves.

Jakarta War Cemetery therefore contains the graves of many who died in defense of Java and Sumatra during the swift Japanese advance in 1942 and many others who perished afterwards as prisoners of war.

Among the dead were sailors who fought in The Battle of Java Sea, and soldiers of "Blackforce" including a number of Australians whose graves lie together in plot 6, and airmen who died in flying battle and airfield defense.

The burials here number 1,181 (Navy 105, Army 783, Air Force 271, Merchant Navy 12, Malayan Police etc 10) of which 715 are British, 304 Indian, 96 Australian, 4 Canadian, 2 New Zealand, 1 South African, 1 Burmese, 22 Malayan, and 36 Allied and others.




THE DJAKARTA MEMORIAL




On the bronze panels at the entrance to the War Cemetery are commemorated by name 53 British and 5 Australian servicemen, and 72 of their comrades whose names are not known, who were executed at Soebang in 1942 and are buried at Antjol.


Land For the Perpetual Resting Place


Memorial Shelter


Cemetery Register





THE MONUMENTS



Cross of Sacrifice Monument
The Cross of Sacrifice was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission and is usually present in Commonwealth war cemeteries.
A freestanding four point limestone Latin cross. On the face of the cross is a bronze sword, blade down. It is usually mounted on an octagonal base. The Cross represents the faith of the majority of the dead and the sword represents the military character of the cemetery. The Cross of Sacrifice is frequently built into the boundary wall of cemeteries where subsidence is a liability





The Indian Forces monument
It is a stone pillar crowned by a sculptured wreath and bearing wreaths on two sides, with "INDIA" inscribed below one and "PAKISTAN" below the other. The cemetery of Indian Forces is covered with turf and planted with many colorful tropical trees and shrubs.



An Indian Military Policeman, Batavia
Tony Rafty - 1945






THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION


Major General Sir Fabian Arthur Goulstone Ware KCVO, KBE, CB, CMG
(17 June 1869 – 29 April 1949)

He was the founder of the Imperial War Graves Commission, now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Now, the president is Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) was Established by Royal Charter in 1917. It is a non-profit-making organization.The CWGW pays tribute to 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died during the WW1 and WW2, also maintain graves and memorials at some 23,000 locations in 150 countries.

They have a staff force of approximately 1,200 (majority stonemasons and gardeners) with an annual budget in the region of £40 million. This Commission operates through the continued financial support of the member states: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa.




THE SYMBOL



The lamp is symbolic of the immortality of the spirit, whereas the wreath of by leaves represents victory.


__________________________________________



THE 5TH DIVISION OF BRITISH INDIAN ARMY
THE LARGEST MOBILIZATION OF BRITISH MILITARY AFTER WW2
LANDED AT SOURABAJA 3rd NOVEMBER 1945


Army Film & Photographic Unit
Davis (Sergeant) and MacTavish (Sergeant)
19-22 November 1945
The burnt-out car of the late Brigadier Mallaby on the spot where he was murdered by Indonesian nationalists in Soerabaja on 30th October 1945.


The 5th Division have large number of 24,000 troops. This division is very famous because had participated in the battle at El Alamein,
where Marshal Rommel's troops (NAZI) defeated.

4th Indian Field Regiment.
5th Field Regiment.
24th Indian Mountain Regiment.
5th Mahratta (Anti-Tank Regiment/Artillery).

17th Dogra Machine-Gun Battalion.
1/3rd Madras Regiment (H.Q. Battalion).
3/9th Regiment (reconnaissance battalion)


9th Indian Infantry Brigade.
2nd West Yorkshire Regiment.
3/2nd Punjab Regiment.
1st Burma Regiment.


123rd Indian Infantry Brigade.
2/1st Punjab Regiment.
1/17th Dogra Regiment.
3/9th Gurkha Rifles.

161st Indian Infantry Brigade.
I/1st Punjab Regiment.
4/7th Rajput Regiment.
3/4th Gurkha Rifles.



____________________________________



THE PHOTOGRAPHS
BRITISH INDIAN ARMY ON ASSIGNMENT
These photographs below are owned by Imperial War Museum
London, United Kingdom.


A British sergeant examines the burnt-out wreckage of Brigadier Mallaby's car on the spot where it was ambushed in Soerabaja.
The Brigadier murdered on 30th October 1945
in front of Internationale Crediet en Handelsvereeniging "Rotterdam" building.
Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit - Hardy A (Company Sergeant Major).





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit - Davis (Sergeant)
30th November 1945

A poster put up by Indonesian nationalists in Soerabaja appealing to Indian troops not to fight against them.





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit -
Davis (Sergeant) & MacTavish (Sergeant)
19-22 November 1945

During a lull in the fighting in Soerabaja an off-duty member of the 1st Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment gets time for a beer.





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit -
Davis (Sergeant) & MacTavish (Sergeant)
19-22 November 1945

Lieutenant Colonel A T Scott of the 9th Brigade, 5th Indian Division, studies an aerial photograph mosaic of Soerabaja during the British advance against Indonesian nationalists holding the town.






Photo by Woollacott (Sergeant) - Royal Air Force official photographer

Three members of a Royal Air Force Regiment patrol (from left to right: Leading Aircraftman C S Taylor, Leading Aircraftman M Smith, and Leading Aircraftman F H Whitehouse), armed with a Bren Gun and rifle grenades, act as cover during a systematic search of a kampong (village) in Java for weapons and ammunition held by Indonesian nationalists.





Photo by Royal Air Force official photographer
November 1945

Flight Lieutenant H McDonald DFC (left), Corporal D Mountford (wearing headphones) and Aircraftman D Jull manning a Royal Air Force Visual Control Post in conjunction with 123rd Brigade of the 5th Indian Division operating in Soerabaja.





Photo by Lea (Sergeant)-Royal Air Force official photographer
November 1945

At Kemajoran airfield, Batavia, Warrant Officer James Gibson and Flight Lieutenant A Jacomb-Hood DFC of 47 Squadron, discuss their attacks on the radio stations at Soerakarta in Java that were held by Indonesian nationalist forces.





Photo by Rolfe, W E (Lt)-Royal Navy official photographer
May 1944

Medicine at Sea:
May 1944 on board HMS RENOWN during the lead up to the 17 May raid on Soerabaja, by a mixed British and American Naval fleet and Air Force. Marine Thomas Quinn, of Glasgow being operated on successfully for an appendicitis.





Photo by Woollacott (Sergeant)-RAF official photografer
December 1945

A Gurkha, wounded in fighting against Indonesian nationalists, is assisted from a Dakota transport aircraft at Batavia in Java.






Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit - Heren (Captain)
14th March 1946

Captain Daniel, a company commander in one of the Frontier Force regiments of the 36th Indian Brigade, prepares to move off in the lead vehicle from Buitenzorg at the start of an operation to clear the northern road between Batavia and Bandoeng.

This operation was undertaken following the ambush of a convoy on the southern routes between Batavia and Bandoeng. It was decided that the northern road had to be cleared and then picquetted in North-West Frontier style to keep it open.






Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit - Wright W B (Sergeant)
19th February 1946

Men of the 4/7th Rajputs in position alongside the railway line at Bekassi during a reconnaissance in force to locate positions held by Indonesian nationalists. The force moved off at dawn on 19 February 1946 towards Bekassi, 14 miles east of Batavia and the scene of a massacre of Indian soldiers and Royal Air Force personnel from a crash-landed Dakota aircraft.





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit - A. Lemon
31st December 1945

Lieutenant Colonel K T Darling of the 5th Parachute Brigade listens whilst a Dutch intelligence officer questions an Indonesian suspect during the operation to take control of all civil administration buildings in Batavia.

In December 1945 men of the 23rd Indian Division and 5th Parachute Brigade successfully occupied civil administration buildings in Batavia, including all police stations. Many members of the police force were suspected of collaboration with the nationalist.






Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit
28th December 1945

Corporal J Rothwell of the Corps of Military Police checks the occupants of a car at a roadblock on the outskirts on Batavia. In order to secure the safety of the population of Batavia a military cordon was thrown around the city to stop the inflow of bandits.





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit-Lemon A (Sergeant)
December 1945

Men of the 7th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment take cover after hearing shots from Indonesian nationalist snipers in the Kramat quarter of Batavia.





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit - Lemon A (Sergeant) and Stewart (Sergeant)
21st November 1945

A soldier of the 1st Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders looks on as Red Cross nurses dress the wounds of an Indonesian civilian shot by Dutch Ambonese troops in Batavia. The man later died of his wounds.



Photo by Woollacott (Sergeant)-RAF
7th December 1945

Indian Mahratta troops load their equipment aboard a Dakota of 31 Squadron at Batavia in Java ready for a flight to Bandoeng.
In eight hours a squadron of Dakotas flew in 800 Indian troops to Bandoeng and the reloaded with Dutch internees and flew them to Batavia. Some crews undertook four flights into Bandoeng during this operation.





Photo by Royal Air Force official photographer
December 1946

An Indonesian woman is questioned during an operation to capture nationalist fighters who killed 20 Indian infantrymen and 5 Royal Air Force aircrew after the crash landing of a Dakota transport aircraft near the village of Bekassi, 15 miles from Batavia.





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit - Modd L. (Sergeant)
26th May 1946

Men of 70 Air Dispatch Unit push supplies out of a Dakota aircraft of 31 Squadron, Royal Air Force, during the daily air drop over Tjianjoer near the city of Bandoeng. Due to ambushes and sabotage by Indonesian nationalists on the roads between Batavia and Bandoeng.

Bandoeng is separated from Batavia by 130 miles of narrow road, which cuts through paddy fields and twisting mountain passes. Attacks on all but the most heavily armed convoys led to the adoption of an air supply service run by the Royal Air Force.






Photo by Royal Air Force official photographer
December 1946

British and Indian troops look on as villagers from Bekassi, 15 miles from Batavia in Java, dig to uncover the bodies of 20 Indian infantrymen and 5 Royal Air Force personnel killed by nationalist fighters after the crash landing of a Dakota transport aircraf.





Photo by Army Film & Photographic Unit-Lemon A (Sergeant)
29th December 1945

Private W. Upton of the 5th Airborne Brigade stands guard over four recently disarmed Indonesian policemen in Batavia. On taking over civil administration buildings in the city it was found that many of the local police were armed with Japanese weapons.






Army Film & Photographic Unit-Heren (Captain)
14th March 1946

Three Indonesian nationalists captured by the 36th Indian Brigade during the fighting in the Poentjak Pass, in which two Indian sepoys were killed. The 36th Brigade was tasked with clearing the northern road between Batavia and Bandoeng.


____________________________________


THE GRAVESTONE
BRIGADIER A.W.S. MALLABY



Brigadier Aubertin Walter Sothern Mallaby (1899 - 30th October 1945) was a British Indian Army officer who most notably was killed in a shootout during the Battle of Surabaya in what was then the Netherlands East Indies during the Indonesian National Revolution. At the time of his death, Mallaby was the Commanding Officer of 49th Indian Brigade which was part of the Allied Forces Netherlands East Indies (AFNEI).

Mallaby held the following posts during the later part of his Army career: Deputy Director of Military Operations in India (1941-1942), Director of Military Operations in India (1943-1944), Commanding Officer, 49th Indian Infantry Brigade in Netherlands East Indies (1944-1945).



The Gravestone of A.W.S Mallaby on Djakarta War Cemetery






Anonymous Airman of Royal Navy





Anonymous Allied Soldier



The war end. But, the new mission just began.
Remembrance as we know them.