Gugurmaiintang: Schelling, Marien and Sosemito
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Spotlight on Dutch-Indonesian History (XV)
The history of the Dutch in Indonesiaespecially in the first half of the 19th Century
resembles in many ways the history of America in the same period, particularly in
the far outposts and forts. For a better understanding of this article, one should think
of the days of Geronimo and Sitting Bull, of palisades and surprise attacks. In Indo
nesia, life in the cities (Batavia, Surabaya) was as safe as in New York and Washing
ton.
But in faraway outposts the Dutch lived
in small clusters of men, women and chil
dren around a small garrison in a "benteng"
(small fortress) like here in Fort Wayne,
Fort Pierce, Fort Lauderdale, in constant
danger of sudden revolts. In the Dutch East
Indies the history of the pioneers goes along
a trail of bloody massacres and heroic fights,
just like in America.
There was only one big difference with far
reaching sociological consequences: the
Dutch lived in close togetherness with the
Indonesians, often even with the "enemy.'"
More than 60% of the Dutch army was In
donesian: in the early 19th Centrury for
the greater part Javanese: later on also Am-
boinese, Menadonese, Timorese. Brown and
white soldiers were perfect comrades in arms.
Only very seldom Indonesian soldiers desert
ed to the enemy. Hundreds of the highest
decorations went to Indonesian soldiers for
exceptional bravery and many were decor
ated with the highest honours for Courage,
Tact and Loyalty MoedBeleid en
Trouw"This curious form of comradeship
existed also in America during World War
II, when divisions of Nisei fought on the side
of America.
Now the sociological side: because family
life in Indonesia always has been in high
esteem, it was also preserved in the army,
where ever)' married soldier took his wife
and children along everywhere he went. In
several tangsi's (garrisons) women and chil
dren even outnumbered the actual strength
of the garrison. In the faraway and danger
ous outposts also these women and children
"saw action" and often were killed in battles.
One can easily understand that in such a
life a new and strong friendship came to life.
In fact a curious form of relationship de
veloped, which may be called "The Gar
rison Family," in which all soldiers (brown
and white) were Oom (Uncle to all women
and children. And all women, caring as much
for their husbands as for their bachelor
friends, were Tante (Auntie).
As seldom white women came to Indonesia,
and certainly not for low ranked soldiers in
the jungle, many white soldiers married In
donesian girls. No colour bar could exist in
a life of loneliness and danger, where the
brown woman found the true man under the
disguise of a white, coarse and hard drinking
ruffian. And the white man found in the
brown woman a companion with great cour
age and loyalty. Lfe as a soldier was very
poor those days and Dutch soldiers had to
live like the poorest natives to survive. Here
the marriage with an Indonesian woman was
a true rescue indeed, as from her the white
soldier learned to know and appreciate native
food and many sound and healthy ways of
life. Here also a deep mutual understanding
was born over the barriers of colour, breed
and faith.
In fact a new breed was born here: the
"genuine" Indo. not troubled by the social
struggle between brown and white like the
city-Indo. but with a great love and respect
for the qualities of both his white and brown
ancestries. He was born in the tumult of
war and grew up wit ha sound admiration for
heroes on both sides. Knowing no white
communities he learned to love and honour
a symbol of nationality .the red-white-blue
flag, served and defended by both white
and brown comrades in arms.
And last but not least: he grew up with a
knowledge of the true meaning of "father
land": not a land of milk and honey and
social security, but the "Tanah turn pah
dar ah": the country for which blood was
sacrificed. In fact, though many Indo's do
garrison, for an escape was impossible with
out leaving behind the severely wounded,
but this was considered an unhonourable
thing to do. But then the wounded soldiers,
sergeant-major J. G. Schelling, soldier F.
MarTn and soldier Sosemito, had a talk
together in the middle of the night. Next
morning Schelling urged commander Banzer
to try to make a getaway with the rest of
the garrison, the women and the children,
while he and his two companions would stay
in the fort and blow themselves up with the
enemy.
The extremely difficult decision was car
ried out the same night. The three wounded
soldiers were laid down between piles of
boxes of powder and other ammunition,
burning fuse in hand. Then the remaining
2 officers and 27 soldiers with the 44 women
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not realize it, for generations and genera
tions Indo-blood of thousands and thous
ands, men. women and children, has been
shed in and for their native countryand for
many the call of this blood will never die,
not in the farthest and happiest new father
lands.
The Indonesian word for "sacrifice" now
is gugurWe find this word back in
GugurmaiintangMalintang" means
"across." On the long march to happiness
many of us will find an early death across
our path. But this life will not be taken for
nothing: it is a "payment," a toll for the
others to pass. A toll, the survivors may
never forget. But alas: many Indo's do.
Gugurmaiintang was the name of a small
fortress bentengin the district of Batipo
near Padangpandjang at the west coast of
Sumatra. In it lived a small garrison of 2
officers. 10 European and 35 Indonesian
non-commissioned officers and soldiers, 44
women and children. On 24 Febraury 1841.
without any warning a fierce revolt broke
out amongst the Padri's (see preceding chap
ter) and thousands of enemy troops stormed
the benteng after having killed all Dutch
civilians (men, women and children) outside
the fort. The situation of the garrison was
rightout hopeless. In spite of the many feats
of incredible courage everyone knew the end
would come soon, because the supply of pro
visions was running out fast. An outbreak
was possble as two attempts had been proved
successful, one by an Indonesian sergeant
and four soldiers, one by an Indonesian
sergeant with eight soldiers. They were on
their march now to Padang Pandjang for
help, but would they reach their destination
in a country full of enemies? And if so,
would help come in time? In the meantime
so many soldiers were wounded or killed,
that everybody knew: the end would come
in horrible death. Commander 2nd lieu
tenant Banzer decided to blow up the whole
and children made their escape in the dark.
Did a sick baby or stumbling little girl cry
in the night? The enemy discovered the
outbreak soon and one of the most cruel
and pitiless pursuits in history was set in.
A few moments later the distant roar of a
tremendous explosion was heard. Schelling,
Marien and Sosemito, numerous enemies
and the whole fortress were blown up. More
revengeful than ever the enemy attacked the
escaping garrison, which was often scattered
in many little groups under the furious at
taques. Women, children and perished alike
in the "Long March" back to Padang Pan
djang. Many were captured and tjint-
ganged" (cut to pieces) beyond recognition,
others were nevermore heard of. Only five
survivors returned to safety to tell the hor
rible story.
Later on a monument was erected for
Schelling, Marien and Sosemito, but in the
three names, engraved in this monument,
all brave men, women and children in all
wars in Indonesia, were rightly honoured.
All over Indonesia, from the blangs
(prairies) of Atjeh to the savanna's of
Timor, lay the graves of fallen soldiers,
white and brown, often together in one grave.
Most graves are since long neglected and
forgotten, lost in the wilderness. A piece of
uncommon and wonderful history seems to
be lost forever.
In the next chapter another aspect of the
history of the Dutch in the tropics will be
shown: The Java War and Diponegoro.
To be continued)
