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With the end of the war in sight, the Japanese granted independence to the Dutch East Indies, fulfilling for the Indonesians a 37-year-old wish. To the Netherlands this represented an irreparable blow to Dutch economy , since most of Holland's wealth came from this incredibly fertile island group
Battle Honor of the Dutch Marines
THE NETHERLANDS Marina Corps has a 280-year record of which it is justifiably proud. Organized on 10 December 1665 by Dutch Adrn Michael DeRuyter, the marines were first used as ships' detachments. They soon developed an amphibious character and were used as landing forces and infantry as tvell as gunnery personnel afloat. In many of the decisive naval battles waged by the Dutch, the marines have played major roles. Highlights in the Corps' history include the Four-Day and Two-Day sea battles against the British and the raid on Chatham, England, in 1666. Other years saw more action: in 1673, 2,200 marines engaged in the sea battle of Kykduin; in 1674, the battle against the French at Seneffe; in 1702, the Dutch-English expedition to Spain; in 1797, as the Batavian Republic under French domination, the battle of Kamperduin (Carnperdown) was fought; 1816 saw the bombardment of Algeria; 1825-26, the Java War; 1847-57, battles with the pirates; in 1906-08 marines went on an expedition against Bali; and in 1929, they were sent to Curacao, Dutch West Indies, after the affair of Urbina.
Illustrated by Sgt Svend Andersen
FROM A SLIGHT distance, beyond earshot that is, the reinforced Marine regiment that sailed aboard the NSS Noordam from Norfolk on 18 November 1945 was indistinguishable from many another Marine unit that has sailed from the same famous port. The green dungarees were familiar, so were the MIs and other weapons in evidence. The big difference was that those marines were Dutch. Commanded by Col R. M. De Bruyne, RNM, and headed for the Indies, they were a trump card in Queen Wilhelmina's bid to retain a fabulously wealthy island empire.
The second echelon sailed from Norfolk on 11 December 1945 aboard the WSS Bloemfontein-a Dutch ship too, but one that is well-remembered by the thousands of American marines it transported overseas in the course of the Pacific War.
With the sailing of these...