Tuesday 24 November 2009

THE 222 YEARS OF FRANS DAVID COCHIUS: ENGINEER OF FORTIFICATION STRATEGY IN JAVA WAR

Lieutenant-General Frans David Cochius in 1850

[3rd of December 1787  – 1st of May 1876]

Lithograph in format of 32x24.5cm

Source: KITLV

Engineer of Battlefield Fortification Strategy in 1827-30

in sequence capturing Diponegoro

 

 

If Frans David Cochius was still alive today, he must be 222 years old in December 2009. Who is he? I’ll bring his short biography and compartment in sequence of capturing Diponegoro in Java War.

 

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Java War 1825-30 was the badly war in the history of colonization in Netherlands Indies. For the first time the colonial government faced a massive social rebellion covering large part of Java: 2 million Javanese people were exposed to the ravages of war, 200 thousands Javanese were died. On the other hand, Dutch suffered 8 thousands European troops and 7 thousands of Indonesian troops who fought for Dutch were perished. The war consequence was rising cost about 20 million guilders! The war that perished everything both Javanese and Dutch side.

 

The Java War was started in a rebellion led by Pangeran Diponegoro for the reason of Dutch political intervention in the Court of Mataram (general reason), and Dutch decision to build a road across a piece of his ancestral property (personal reason).

 

 

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F.D. Cochius was an expertise in fortification. He designed the prototype of battlefield fortification strategy [Benteng Stelsel]. The fort was built in high terrain, a square building made by coconut tree height about 7-8 feet.The cannons were applied in the one of diagonal corner of the fort. Each corner has two cannons.

 

In the throne of Governor General Du Bus de Gissignies, the government of Dutch Indies failed to extinguish the rebellion of Diponegoro. In several party the Diponegoro army defeated the Dutch Indies army, such as campaign for capturing Kejiwan [August 1826], campaign of Delanggu [August 1826], and campaign of Gawok [October 1826]. Military operation did not reach the objective. General H.M. de Kock ordered to Colonel F.D. Cochius for planning the prototype of battlefield fortification strategy.

 

This prototype was implied in battlefield fortification strategy in area Bagelen, Banjoemas, Gowong, Ledok, Kedhu, and Jogjakarta. It could be the simple fort for defense in Java War for the reason for limitation the movement of Diponegoro. It was the temporary battlefield fortification: a simple building for military defense, efficient in raw material for the building, and the materials are available in Java.

 

The strategy of Battlefield Fortification was implied since May 1827. The Battlefield Fortification means that fort was not only have a passive role in the military defense, but it’s emphasized that the fort has active and important role as quarter for offensive operation, military command and control and logistic purposes. Broadly speaking, fort was attempted as warfare and military strategic. In period of May – December 1827 General H.M. de Kock established about 30 forts surrounding Central Java.

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THE ACHIEVEMENTS

F.D. Cochius was born 3rd of December 1787 in Valburg.

His parents are Gerrit Jan Casparus Cochius and Anna Dibbets.

He died in Huize Vredenoord near Rijswijk, Netherlands on 1st of May 1876.

 

July 1811:

Captain in the French Army

December 1814:

Captain in Netherlands Army

May 1822:

Awarded “Ridder IIIe klasse of Officier in de Militaire Willems-Orde” [MWO], the 3rd Class Knight in Military Order of William in his service as engineer attached to Headquarters during the Waterloo Campaign.

September 1825:

Lieutenant-Colonel F.D. assaulted the Jogjakarta. He was the Commander of Garrison of Soerakarta with 2 companies of infantry [Hulptropen from Soemenap and Legion of Mangkoenegaran], 1 platoon of cavalery [Huzar], and 12 Light Infantry [Dragonder].

October 1825:

He designed the prototype of temporary battlefield fortification in Kalidjengking. His designed would be adopted in to Fortification Strategy in following Java War 1826 – 30.

June 1826:

Capturing Pleret, a fort of Diponegoro in Southern of Jogjakarta with more than 7.000 Dutch soldiers.

July 1826:

He lead the movement to Dekso, a new headquarter of Diponegoro after Pleret conquered by Dutch Army.

1827:

Commander in Military Operation District of Jogjakarta

April 1828:

Battle of Bedoyo, he waved Diponegoro army out from this village.

July - August 1828:

Colonel Cochius occupied the valley of Progo and assault the Diponegoro army between Progo and Opak rivers.

January 1829:

Military operation to North Mataram.

This operation was moving Diponegoro in to the western Progo River successfully.

The operation continued to Southern Mountains of Jogjakarta.

July 1829:

Capturing Fort Geger. This fort was built by coral materials.

March 1830:

Colonel Cleerens with Diponegoro arrived in Magelang.

The Kedhu Resident and military chief, including Colonel F.D. Cochius met them in Magelang before the capitulation 28 of March 1830. Based on capturing Diponegoro in Magelang, it designate that the Java War was terminated.

Post of Java War, Colonel F.D. Cochius was the commander in Salatiga, a town in Java.

1831 - 37:

Extinguishing of the uprising of the Padri's Islamic fundamentalist insurgents in the mountains of western Sumatra raged.

August 1837:

Conquered the Fort Bondjol in West Sumatra.

May 1838:

Commander Militaire Willemsorde

September 1837:

1st Colonial Infantry Battalion in Bondjol for Major General F.D. Cochius, RVH

[Van Heutz Regiment].

November 1841:

12th Infantry Battalion in Batavia for Lieutenant-General F.D. Cochius, RVH

[Van Heutz Regiment].

April 1846:

13th Infantry Battalion in Batavia for Lieutenant-General F.D. Cochius, RVH

[Van Heutz Regiment].

 

 

 

 

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FORT COCHIUS IN WEST BAGELEN – GOMBONG:

COMMEMORATE OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL F.D. COCHIUS

 

Governor General Johannes van den Bosch determined "Algemeene Orders voor het Nederlandsch-Oost-Indische Leger" in 1830, which lead the commencement for new military organization in Netherlands-Indies: “Oost-Indische Leger”.

 

 

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Principal Entrance of Fort Cochius

This fort built in 1833, after The Java War



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Western Gate

 

In 1833 a modern fort was established in octagonal platform. Probably this fort replacing the battery of Kemit which built in 1827. It was origin from the temporary fort that built in the period Java War. The fort was inaugurated as Fort Cochius, to commemorate the engineer of Battlefield Fortification Strategy in 1827-30, Lieutenant-General F.D Cochius. 

 

However, as established in the post Java War period, means afterward the turbulence in Java, the Fort Chochius was purposed as military logistic rather than military defense.

 

 

See also:

FORT GENERAL COCHIUS:

OCTAGONAL FORTRESS IN KEMIT - WEST BAGELEN

 

 

 

REFERENCES

“Generaal-maj. Cochius dwingt de vesting Bonjol tot overgave (16-08-1837)”

Koninklijke Landmacht

Ministerie van Defensie – Den Haag

http://www.defensie.nl

 

Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde

Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies – Leiden

www.kitlv.nl

 

“Strategi Menjinakkan Diponegoro: Stelsel Benteng 1827-1830”

By Saleh A. Djamhari

Published by Komunitas Bambu, Jakarta, 2003.

 

“The Origins of the Java War (1825-30)”

By Peter Carey

The English Historical Review, Vol. 91, No. 358

Published by Oxford University Press, January, 1976

 

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Pameran Benteng di Jawa & Sumatra: “KONFLIK PERDAGANGAN & PEREBUTAN TERITORIAL”

Start:     Nov 25, '09 09:00a
End:     Dec 10, '09 2:00p
Location:     Galeri Kaca, Museum Nasional, Jl. Merdeka Barat no.12, Jakarta Pusat

Diselenggarakan oleh:
Pusat Dokumentasi Arsitektur
dan
Direktorat Peninggalan Purbakala, Departemen Kebudayaan & Pariwisata

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Saturday 14 November 2009

JUNYO MARU COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE IN TJIMAHI




“At about half past five we were roused from a light snooze by a dull and the trembling of the entire ship,
my first thought was: an explosion of one of the boilers.
We all jumped up which caused an enormous scramble for the only steps leading to the deck.
A few seconds after the first explosion there was another bang…, and gun-powder smoke came into our hold…
The ship's sirens started blaring and then we realized that we had been torpedoed.
A panic followed……
Our ship was still high up in the water, but without further thinking, I went to the railing jumped into the sea”.
~Hans Lüning (1907-1995) – the survivor of Junyo Maru~

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“…Then, a second jolt and a thundering blast deep beneath my feet…
"Torpedoes!!!"…
Men jumped overboard. Others threw life rafts over the side.
I helped some climbing out of the hold.
A mob of panic-stricken men crawled, trudged and wormed onto the one single iron ladder.
Scratched, beaten and bloodied, some reached the deck.
The bowels of the ship were belching up……
I was a 19-year-old P.O.W. when I saw more than 5,000 men perish before my eyes…”
~Willem Wanrooy - the survivor of Junyo Maru~


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~The Junyo Maru Commemorative Plaque~
The 65 Years of Largest Maritime Disaster in World War II
Ereveld Leuwigadjah, Tjimahi, West Java


Behind the flagpole of Ereveld Leuwigadjah, there is a small court where the Junyo Maru Commemorative Plaque established. This monument was donated by Stichting Herdenking Junyo Maru (Junyo Maru Memorial Foundation), in memory of casualties in the years 1942-1945 who died at sea in the South-East Asia. The plaque was inaugurated on 21th of September 1984. Ereveld Leuwigadjah is located on Kerkhof Jl. Tjibogo 16, Tjimahi. It was about 10 km west of Bandoeng, West Java.

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Junyo Maru was built in 1913 by Robert Duncan Co. Glasgow.
It displaced 5,065 tons, was 405 ft long, 53 ft (16 m) wide, and 27.2 ft (8.3 m) deep.
The engines were rated at 475 hp (354 kW).




MAP
THE SINKING OF JUNYO MARU
.Photobucket
Source: Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen
Courtesy of Hatmanto Sri Nugroho
The position of the sinking Junyo Maru as 2º 52' S, 101º 12' E
The blue point is aproximately location of the sinking Junyo Maru.
The red point is destination of the Junyo Maru, Padang.


The Japanese cargo ship Junyo Maru left Tanjong Priok Harbor in Batavia on the 16th of September 1944 with the destination to Padang.There were 6.500 people on board consisted: 2.300 Dutch, British, American and Australian Prisoners of War (POWs) and 4200 Javanese slave laborers. On 18th of September 1944, the Japanese Cargo ship Junyo Maru was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean, by the British Submarine H.M.S. Tradewind. The submarine commander had not known what Junyo Maru was carrying POWs. About the 6500 passengers, 5620 perished.



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HMS Tradewind - British


Final count of survivors picked up by the Japanese boats was about 680 POWs and 200 Javanese slave laborers. That is only 880 were survived, in other words a number of 5.620 has perished! It will be the largest maritime disaster of World War II. The 880 survival men were employed (romusha) on the 220km of Sumatra railway line between Pekanbaru and Muaro untill 1945, fortune and misfortune. Therefore, it would be the largest maritime disaster in World War II.

***
It is the 67 years on. However, this largest maritime disaster is nearly forgotten by people in the world, even in Indoneisan history. From the monuments that commemorate about war victims both civilian and military, war disasters, and the suffering civilization all over the world, the monuments warn us that the war perished everything, a zero sum game!



~REFERENCES~

EREVELD LEUWIGADJAH
Leaflet of Ereveld Leuwigadjah - OGS Indonesia
LIST OF CASUALTIES
The Sinking of Junyo Maru
[ http://members.iinet.net.au/~vanderkp/junyopg8.html ]

THE WILL TO LIVE
By Willem Wanrooy
Veterans Outlook, Official Publication of Brotherhood Rally of All Veterans Organization, March/April 1988
[ http://members.iinet.net.au/~vanderkp/wiltoliv.html ]

JUNYO MARU: TORPEDOED BY BRITISH SUBMARINE HMS TRADEWIND
by Robert Barr Smith, March 2002
 [ http://www.historynet.com/juno-mayru-torpedoed-by-british-submarine-hms-tradewind.htm ]

Monday 12 October 2009

INSIDE FORT WILLEM I AT AMBARAWA







"With the other prisoners, I was transferred by train to Fort William station in Ambarawa.
This was a prison for political prisoners, similar to the Orange Hotel in Scheveningen…
… In Fort William I had woven rice bags, one per specified number of days.
If you do not succeed, you had been beaten.
On Sunday we did not work, but we had to watch a Japanese propaganda film…"

~ Witnesses Story: Chris van der Ven, Arnhem, Netherlands ~



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The Parade Ground and Westbank Military Barrack
Strafgevangenis [Criminal Jail] Fort Willem I – 1927
Source: KITLV


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South-East Gate


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Inside the Barrel Vault
[a vault having a semicircular cross section, Also called tunnel vault]



ON MISSION

Ambarawa has an altitude about 475-50 meters above the sea level. Since 1840s, it was a plantation town, because Ambarawa has excellent climate for the agricultural products especially coffee plantation [Cultuur Stelsel]. Located in Central Java about 30 km south of Samarang [North Coast] or 80 km north of Djocja [South Coast], and surrounded by mountains as well.

From the military perspective, Ambarawa was sited near the strategic axis of Samarang – Souracarta. In the mid of 18th century, the VOC established some fortifications along the route Samarang-Oenarang-Sallatiega-Souracarta. It was designed to establish the connection between the Company and the Mataram Kingdom. Therefore, many military encampments have been established in those towns.

In period Java War 1827-30, Colonel Hoorn, Military Commander in the 2nd division to the crossroads at Bawen (where the main roads of Samarang-Djocja and Samarang-Sallatiega are united), had the bamboo sheds for storing reserve forces and provided as complementary to, if he becomes available (military logistic) in Ambarawa. This point was so convenient. Post Java War period, during Koningin Willem II, a modern fort Willem I was established in 1834-53 at that former bamboo sheds of military logistic storage.

Fort William I was formerly known as a big army camp of KNIL. The camp was connected by rail to Semarang and Yogyakarta. Present day, this fort is still purposed as penitentiary building, which sited in land of Battalion Cavalry 2 – Indonesian Forces. From Ambarawa, here we took a walk to cruise inside the Fort Willem I on Sunday, 27th of September 2009.





ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Photobucket
M.A. Soetikno
A Leader of “Paguyuban Peduli Cagar Budaya – Ratu Sima”
[The Community Care for Heritage]
and “Sanggar Seni Gedong Songo”
[The Art Workshop]


This journey would not be commenced without kindness of Pak Soetikno and Pak Galih from “Paguyuban Peduli Cagar Budaya – Ratu Sima” [Community Care for Heritage] in Ungaran. For that reason, I would express my appreciation for them who occasionally accompanied me cruising within the fort.




MAP OF AMBARAWA – 1922:
RAILWAY STATION AND FORT WILLEM I
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“Java. Res. Semarang – Plat XXIIh”
Herzien door Topografischen dienst in 1922
Source: Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen





FORT WILLEM IN THE AERIAL VIEW

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Fort Willem I – 1927
Source: KITLV

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Fort Willem I - 2009
Source: Google Earth - 2009





________________________________________________________

A MEMOIR OF WILLEM I OF NETHERLANDS

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Willem I (1772-1843), Koning der Nederlanden
by J. Paelinck Peintre de S.M. La Reine des Pays Bas à Bruxelles – 1819
Source: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Prince of Nassau-Orange-Fulda
Reign 1803 - 1806

Prince of Orange-Nassau
Reign 1813 – 1815

King of the Netherlands
Reign 1813 (1815 as King) - 1840

Duke & Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Reign 1815 (same year elevated to Grand Duke) – 1840
_______________________________________________________





ARCHITECTURE

~Fortification~
Fortification is a defensive military work constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position. Included here are walls built to protect a city from hostile acts. The term is derived from the Latin fortis ("strong") and facere ("to make"). Sometimes forts are supplemented with moat around it. Aside for defensive purposes, forts are often used as dwelling or the boundary of a city.


~ Fortification Design in the Post Java War Period ~
Since the post Java War period (the calm stage after 1830), the government of Dutch Indies established some fortifications in order to strengthening territory, especially Java. We can compare the main different in architecture between the fortification in period of the Company (17th – 18th century) and Post Java War (19th century) regarding the different utility.

The Company fortifications were designed according to the rules of military architecture for emphasizing the defense work from enemy’s military attack, whereas the 19th century fortification were designed for a defense work of the military logistic.

Concerning the defense work of military logistic, the Fort Willem I has unusual design which represents the different purpose of fortification. For examples: many windows in the rampart, the bastions are not installed in the main building (no flank, means there is no part of bastion that extends from the curtain to the face), no embrasure (no opening through which missiles may be discharged).




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Housing for Military Garrison – East Bank





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The North-East Corner



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Former Military Barrack




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Stairway-1




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Stairway -2




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The Stretched Gallery and Terracotta Tile





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Remnants of Commander House




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The Classical Columns




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Remnants of Windows



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Military Building between Two Bastions




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Inside Military Building between Two Bastions




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Water Tower




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THE CHRONICLES OF FORT WILLEM I


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A battalion of Dutch-Indies Army in Fort William in Ambarawa – ca. 1900
Source: KITLV


1827–30
Colonel Hoorn, Military Commander in the 2nd division to the crossroads at Bawen
established the bamboo sheds for military logistic at Ambarawa.

1834–53
A modern fort Willem I was established at the former bamboo sheds for military logistic.
This Fort was purposed as Military Camp of KNIL until 1927 (?)

1865
The terrible earthquake shook the whole military camp,
some buildings in the fort itself were destroyed.

1927
Fort Willem I was adjusted from penitentiary of children prisoner for political prisoner and adult prisoner


1942–45
Japanese internment camps,
included military barrack surrounding the fort.

1945
The headquarters of the TKR
[14th of October – 23th of November 1945]

“Bersiapkampen” – Republican Camps
During the Great Awakening period 14th October – 10th of December 1945
were in the former Dutch East Indies around 3.500 Dutch civilians were interned
by Indonesian freedom fighters inside the Fort Willem I.
Camp Commandant: Sartoso
Camp Security: former prisoners, guards and pemoedas
Leadership Camp: Mr. Zeeman


1946–50
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Fort Willem on 28th of July 1947
Source: Nationaal Archief – The Netherlands


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The new Police Troops are being trained police force
for the farewell parade in Fort William I.
Photo Collection Service for Military Contacts
Source: Nationaal Archief – The Netherlands

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The Communists from 13 Dutch troops from Salam transferred to the Republic.
Among them were Mr. Soebardjo, Mr. Iwa Koesoema Soemantri, Dr.Tjoak Sil Ien and Ir. Tajeb.
Source: Nationaal Archief – The Netherlands


1950
The fort was purposed as adult penitentiary and military barrack
[Decree of the Minister of Justice RI No. JH6.2/23/1/RI/16]

1985
The fort was purposed as children penitentiary and military barrack
[Decree of the Minister of Justice RI No 01PR/07.031/1985]

1991
The fort was purposed as II-B penitentiary and military barrack
[Decree of the Minister of Justice RI No M.10/PR/07.03/1991]

2003 – Present day
The fort was purposed as II-A penitentiary and military barrack
[Decree of the Minister of Justice and Human Rights RI No M.16.PR-07.03.2003]





POST OFFICE AT FORT WILLEM I
Below the image of a letter that sent from Fort Willem I to a Resident in Batavia in the mid of 19th century. See the stamp, “Franco – Fort Willem I Ambarawa”.

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Folding letter written in the "Vesting William / Ambarawa / 14 November 1853"
to the Resident of Batavia
Courtesy of Van Dieten Postzegel Veilingen BV
Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands


_____________________________________________




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The Bell designed by by Paul van Vlissingen and Dudok van Heel – Amsterdam in 1843
It is garnished by Euro-Chinese Fret
[Fret or key pattern is a decorative design contained within a band or border, consisting of repeated, often geometric figures]

Paul van Vlissingen & Dudok van Heel :
“Koninklijke Fabriek van Stoom- en andere Werktuigen, Amsterdam”
[Royal Factory of Steam and other Tools, Amsterdam]


Paulus Cornelis van Vlissingen (1829-1906)
Directeur van de Koninklijke Fabriek Firma “Paul van Vlissingen en Dudok van Heel” 1852-1871
grootgrondbezitter in Minnesota, USA 1871-1887;
conservator van het Gemeentelijk Museum van Oudheden te Haarlem 1886-1906.


The company was founded by Paul van Vlissingen and Abraham Dudok van Heel in 1827 that supporting King William.

1826
Originally, the company was founded by Paul van Vlissingen as a place to repair steam engines on the Amsterdam Steamboat Company in Oostenburg.

1827
A former smoke house of the VOC hired to expand.
Together with Abraham Dudok van Heel was now a "Factory of Steam and Other Tools”
developed under the name Van Vlissingen & Dudok van Heel.

1850s
The factory was the one of the greatest engineering in the Netherlands.

1913
Moved to the manufacture of railway carriages and steel structures for the industrial.

1929
The telegraphic address “Werkspoor” was the official name of the company.


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The Dutch Cemetery and Fort Willem I
[end of 19th century lithograph]
Source: Tropenmuseum


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The Bastion and Mountainous Landscape of Ambarawa




REFERENCES

“Werkspoor“
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werkspoor


“A Visual Dictionary of Architecture”
by Francis D.K. Ching
Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold.

“Terminologie Verdedigingswerken”
Stichting Menno van Coehoorn – Januari 2004

”Het Indisch budget van oorlog”
digitale bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse letteren
Stichting dbnl Leiden
http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_gid001186801_01/_gid001186801_01_0061.htm

Bersiapkampen: Fort Willem I
http://www.bersiapkampen.nl/Fort%20Willem%20I.htm

Voor dertien jongens betekende 'mati' echt 'dood'
Getuigenverhaal: Chris van der Ven, Arnhem – Gelderland
Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei – Amsterdam
http://www.4en5mei.nl



Friday 2 October 2009

THE SECRET COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA AT TJILATJAP


Photobucket
Welcome to Coastal Battery Entrance:
Moat, Rampart, and Embrasure
This coastal battery was established in 1861–79.
Coastal battery in the fortification term means stowed position near the coastline for a number of guns and sometimes performed as a separate small defense work
that merged into one organization.


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Medical Room


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ON MISSION

Started from Djokjakarta, and then traveled about 180 km to Tjilatjap on 24th of September 2009. The objective of this tempting mission is for architectural documentation by photographs and surged the history of The Coastal Battery on Peninsula at Tjilatjap, adjoining my previous humble study about fortification.

Tjilatjap is located on the South-West of Central Java, it had a busy trading port since Governor General J.J. Rochussen established a port on 29th of November 1847. The port was formed by the coast and the island of Noesa Kembangan. However, today port of Tjilatjap is less attractive for trading and military defense anymore.

Coastal Battery on Peninsula at Tjilatjap has remains the chambers for prison, ammo storage, artillery storage, tunnels for connecting the rooms, logistic and kitchen, military barrack, surveillance; also ramparts with embrasures, and moat.

It built in the period of four Governor General of Netherlands East Indies, they were Lodolf A.J.W. Baron Sloet van de Beele (1861–66), Pieter Mijer (1866–72), James Loudon (1872–75), and Johan van Landsberge (1875–81).

Now, it stands on the land property of KODAM IV/Diponegoro [Regional Military Command] about 6 hectares, shrunk from 10 hectares in original plan of 1874 for the reason of Pertamina oil refinery development. However, based on the plan, about 40% of this battery is remaining unexplored yet, hidden beneath the coastland.





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THE NAVAL AND MILITARY EVENTS IN TJILATJAP

1739
The first expedition of VOC surrounding Noesa Kembangan.
Objective of this expedition was observing the Tjilatjap after
the British East India Company, “Royal George”, taking some activities in the harbor.

1812 – 1816
The British Royal Army built a small fortress to protect against the Tjilatjap Boeginese pirates in Karang Bollong (North-East top of Noesa Kembangan).

1816
Fort Karang Bollong fell into Dutch rule.

1830
[4th of December 1830]
The government of Dutch Indies had the statement that
Noesa Kembangan was included in the small garrison in Java.
In Noesa Kembangan, there were two batteries finished,
Banjoe Njappa and Karang Bollong,

1847
[29th of November 1847]
Governor General J.J. Rochussen stated that harbor of Tjilatjap was not only for
trading utility, but also on the context of military defense.

1854
Old Coast battery in the East was installed by a number of cannons.

1855
[15th of February 1855]
Establishment of military barrack for the 17th artillery in Tjilatjap city.
About 90 privates lived here.

1857
Lookout tower was established at Goenoeng Tjimering in Noesa Kembangan.

1846-60
Battery in the east of the city was established,
encountering the enemy’s hostile from the east.

1861 - 1879
The construction period of the Coastal Battery on Peninsula,
In reason of many flaws in Fort Karang Bollong, the Government makes decisions and work to build a new coastal battery in peninsula of Tjilatjap.
First construction opposite the coastal side, then continued to built in other side.

1887
[20th of January 1887]
Line of defense in Tjilatjap was proposed.
It strengthened the South Coast of Java, that remained unprotected at that time.


1888
The navy armada in Tjilatjap was established that financed by Department of Navy.
Malaria epidemic in coastline of Tjilatjap, the garrisons move out to the city.

1916
Government initiated to develop the military housing and genie office in Tjilatjap.

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GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF TJILATJAP – 1893

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Source:
(Excerpt)
Kaart van Nederlandsch-Indie 1893 [naar oorspronkelijke teekening van H.Ph.Th.Witkamp]. Printed by JH de Bussy – Amsterdam.
Collection of Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen – Amsterdam
Courtesy of Hatmanto Sri Nugroho.
Red point is location of Tjilatjap.
Island of Noesa Kembangan is sited on the southward of Tjilatjap.




CITY MAP OF TJILATJAP – 1900

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Source:
Tjilatjap, Java – Residentie Banjoemas, 1900 (excerpt)
Collection of Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen – Amsterdam
The red rectangular is location of Coastal Battery on Peninsula at Tjilatjap.






~THE COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA AT TJILATJAP~

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Source:
Google Earth, 2009
The 1874 original plan consists of 10 hectares, but present day it only remains 6 hectares
for the reason of Pertamina Oil Rifenery.


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Source:
“Kustbatterij op de Landtong te Tjilatjap”
Algemen Plan Zooals het is vasteld bij Gouvernoor Besluit van 21 November 1864
No.8 met de derde detailprojecten,
22 Maart 1874.
Courtesy of Agency of Heritage Conservation
[Badan Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala – Jawa Tengah]







THE ARCHITECTURE

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Millitary Barrack: Looking outside




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Millitary Barrack: Looking Inside





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Haxokazemat, established in 1873
It was gun casemate built on the ramparts, has rear open chamber for gunpowder.



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Inside the haxokazemat, outward looking to the coast.



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Medical Room




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Talud (slope of a wall or glaze) of Ammo and Gunpowder Storage




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Observing the Ammo and Gunpowder Storage




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Battlement of Rifle Infantry



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Artillery Storage: Bearing Masonry Wall




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Tunnel




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Door of Logistic Storage
See the “slope of agger” outside the storage room.
Agger is attack work in the form of a dam, built around a fortress wall,
which was gradually raised to an assault on the wall as possible.



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Inside Logistic Storage 1


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Inside Logistic Storage 2




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Inside Prison Chamber







THE HISTORY OF COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA
AT TJILATJAP


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The Extensive Tunnel
See the vault above, a compound vault having a central vault
intersected by vaults of lower pitch. Also called Welsh vault.

We can also see the soot (remains of carbon), which was left on the wall.
It could be the battery used torch for room lighting.




1861 - 1879
The construction period of the Coastal Battery on Peninsula.
Ammo storage established (1861), south tunnel established (1868), prison chamber established (1869), principal tunnel established (1873), military barrack established (1877).

1864
Governor decision on 21st of November refers to the third detail plan and changes.

1861 – 1942
Dutch military building

1942 – 45
Japanese military building,
some concrete military defenses and cannons added.

1945 – 49
Unknown

1950 – 52
Unoccupied

1952 – 62
Headquarter of Banteng Loreng Battalion of Indonesian Military Forces

1962 – 65
Indonesian Para Commando Regiment (RPKAD)

1965 – 86
The fort was simply neglected

1986 – 87
Conservation and preservation

1987 – Present day
Museum of “Benteng Pendem”, managed by private enterprises.



Today, about 60% of the battery has been explored and identified. The subsequently exploration for this coastal battery will surged the mystery of secret defense work in Tjilatjap. We are waiting ahead.

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REFERENCES

“Laporan Studi Kelayakan Benteng Pendem Cilacap”
Bagian Proyek Pembinaan Peninggalan Sejarah
dan Kepurbakalaan Jawa Tengah 1998/1999.

“A Visual Dictionary of Architecture”
by Francis D.K. Ching
Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold.

“Terminologie Verdedigingswerken”
Stichting Menno van Coehoorn – Januari 2004

”Het Indisch budget van oorlog”
digitale bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse letteren
Stichting dbnl Leiden
http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_gid001186801_01/_gid001186801_01_0061.htm

“Cilacap (1830-1942): Bangkit dan Runtuhnya Suatu Pelabuhan di Jawa”
By Susanto Zuhdi
Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia, 2002




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If you have a chance to access the Nationaal Archief – Den Haag,
may these references will guide you to found more information:

#1353
Kustbatterij op de landtong te Tjilatjap. Algemeen plan met de wijzigingen
van de detailprojecten . Uitgave Batavia.
1874 (1 blad)
Schaal 1:1.000.
Bij Gouv. Besluit van 21 november 1864 nr. 8 en brief 3 juni 1874 nr. 781/4.

#5059
Project van een defensiewerk, kustbatterij te Tjilatjap. Calque.
ca. 1874 (1 blad)
Schaal 1:1.000.

#5060
Gewijzigd project van een kustbatterij te Tjilatjap.
ca. 1874 (2 bladen)
Behoort bij missive der genie Directie van 20 april 1864 1e Bureau nr. 2120.

#1352
Project eener kustbatterij op de landtong te Tjilatjap. Met de stand der
werkzaamheden.
1869 (1 blad)
Schaal 1:1.000.
Zie Gouv. Besluit van 21 november 1864 nr. 8 en missive van 24 juli 1869 nr. 350.



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