The Day of Heroes

[gumalangi]

The Battle of Surabaya was fought between pro-Independence Indonesian soldiers and militia against British and the Netherlands troops as a part of Indonesian National Revolution. The peak of the battle was in November 1945. facing fierce resistance, yet British troops managed to conquer Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia, on behalf of the Netherlands. The Battle was the heaviest single battle of the Revolution and became a national symbol of Indonesian resistance. Considered a heroic effort by Indonesians, the battle helped galvanise Indonesian and international support for Indonesian independence. 10 November is celebrated annually as Heroes Day (Hari Pahlawan).

Allied forces arrived at the end of October 1945, the pemuda ('youth') foothold in Surabaya city was described as "a strong unified fortress". Heavy fighting erupted when 6,000 British Indian troops landed in the city to evacuate European internees. Following the killing of British Brigadier General Mallaby on 30 October, British retaliated with a punitive sweep beginning on 10 November under the cover of air attacks. Although the European forces largely captured the city in three days, the poorly armed Republicans fought for three weeks and thousands died as the population fled to the countryside.

Despite the military defeat suffered by the Republicans and a loss of manpower and weaponry that would severely hamper Republican forces for the rest of the Revolution, the battle and defence mounted by the Indonesians galvanised the nation in support of independence and helped garner international attention. For the Dutch, it removed any doubt that the Republic was not simply a gang of collaborators without popular support. It also had the effect of convincing Britain that wisdom lay on the side of neutrality in the Revolution; next a few years, in fact, Britain would support the Republican cause in the United Nations.

[Kyt]

There is a chapter in the history of the 5th Indian Division about these events:

Anthony Brett-James. Ball of Fire. Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War. 1951. Chapter 32. Epilogue. Appendices.

[gumalangi]

I read through the article,.. I do like the chronological story about the article. However few statements need to be address and it seems (from my own opinion) are the main body of the story;

".. to recapture soerabaja, a Dutch city..."
this statement, clearly showed the real mindset of allied force about the city. It was very clear that, after pacifying the city, on the February, Dutch Marines contingents assume the defence of the city.

At the very begining of the missions carried by allied force. In the heart of every allied soldiers, Soerabaja, was in anyway was not a part of Indonesia nation. Base on this, no Indonesian sure will take it easily. It was some grafitties mentioning " Indonesia for Indonesians.."

".. the mortar started to be accurate, at this stage it the indonesian commanded by the Japanese.."
I guess it is forgotten, that few ten of thousands of Indonesian were proffesionally trained by Dutch before the war. And during the war, there were at least 2 millions gyuguns (army auxilarries) formed by Japaneser.

These formations created some basis of proffesionals combatants. My late father a former Kaigun-Ho, he mastered light AA guns, piloting a gun-boat size vessel, abled ship mechanic and other millitary related skills. After the war he was offered rank of 2nd Lt for Navy but dennounced, he joined police force instead.

It is understood that Indonesians forces was not as great as any other military formations. But it is rather hard to accept, the statement that indonesians armed units are nothing but bunch of mindless mischieves.

".. the Dutch and chinese who owned larger house in the city.."
this statement again, one of the statement that created by Dutch Colonization era to divide and to conquer the colony.. Divide et Impera.

In Soerabaja and Batavia it was the Chinese being separated to most common people to created sense of uneasiness. And in Surakarta, it was the local nobles to the peasants, and in Sulawesi, It was the moslems towards the christians,. and so forth.

We were divided so strongly as for us not to bother the existent of some strangers occupying our own backyards. So we need these strangers protections against our own neighbour.

[gumalangi]

Javanese local aircraft groundcrew in 1942, on Dutch Aircraft.,. this local lad seemed well-versed on his job.

another pictures, Local recruit KNIL, engineering unit in training.

And formation of Army Auxillaries concists of Indonesians, by Japanese.

[Antipodean Andy]

That be a Buffalo, hey, Kyt?

Gumalangi, check the pic down the bottom of the this link:

No. 18 (NEI) Squadron, RAAF

[gumalangi]

checked,. thank you sir,. so it was Corporal Djadi the lad eh,.