KNIL Ranks and badges

[marianas_gamer]

I'm well into painting up my KNIL troopers for gaming in the Dutch East Indies and the vicinity ca. 1900 and just realized that I have no real idea of Dutch ranks in the KNIL or how they were indicated  :  :  : . I have been on Google and found some nice pictures of collar tabs for ranks after the KNIL went over to the green uniform. Does anyone know if these were the same in the older blue uniform? Also, did the Marechaussee have equivilant ranks and rank tabs in its chain of command? I would also be very interested in any books that are available in english concerning the KNIL and especially the Marechaussee. Thanks.
LB

[Prof.Witchheimer]

very difficult, to be honest I never heard of the KNIL until today. But it seems to be a really interesting chapter of the colonial history.

have found some pics, no idea if helpful, i guess you have already found them, too

[Buzgob]

There's a museum in the Netherlands about the Marechaussee. I reckon they can help you with questions regarding uniforms and ranks and stuff. Just send an e-mail to: museum.kmar@12move.nl
If they only understand Dutch I might be able to help you out with a bit of translation. If you don't get the info you need just send me a clear e-mail or PM about what you need exactly and I will find out. Either by contacting them myself or by asking my father who used to be in the Marechaussee (not in 1900 mind you  :wink:) and is still active as editor for some magazine for former officers or something like that.

[marianas_gamer]

Thank you Prof. W. and Buzgob,
I have been very interested in the KNIL for quite some time and wanting to game the Marechaussee in a pulpish type of way(Chinese and Malay pirates, Dayak headhunters, German zeppelin troops out of Kaiser Wilhelm Land in New Guinea, etc.). Being a parochial American (and yes people from my family are Yankees - We fought on Lincoln's side) I have only limited foreign language skills and almost everything on the KNIL is in Dutch  :cry: I really appreciate the pictures, two of which I have not seen and the second was in a smaller format on a book cover. I will definately follow up on the KNIL museum email address too. I'm hoping that they have books in english or at least good books with illustrations and maps as I would really like to game the Ache campaign as well.
LB

[Prof.Witchheimer]

There is an OOP book on amazon.com on the Acheh matter, unfortunately not available at the moment, maybe try it in a library

Perang kolonial Belanda di Aceh = The Dutch colonial war in Acheh (Unknown Binding)

in both languages (dutch and english)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9798195000

[marianas_gamer]

Thanks again Prof. I will try to to run the book down.
Here are a couple of pictures of my KNIL in action as well as a couple of my 29 cent tiger roaming the jungle.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marianas_gamer/
I know that the painting is not up to the magnificent standards of many on this forum but I'm pretty happy with it. I made most of the terrain on the table except for the coconuts, betel nut palms, and the young breadfruit trees, all of which I painted so at least *I* think that they look more real  :mrgreen: . I am happy to say though that all of the trees on the table represent real jungle trees that would be appropriate for the setting.
LB

[Chairface]

Love your KNIL models. I have a special place in my heart for the KNILs. My great uncle was a KNIL sniper. What models did you use?

[marianas_gamer]

Thanks, the minis are by Tiger. They have a nice developing range of colonial figures. I think that the hats are a bit flamboyant but since I'm using them in a pulp campaign thats probably a good thing  :mrgreen:

[Motorway]

Well, finally managed to login. Sorry to drag up an old thread, but it's very nice to see someone from another country than the Netherlands interested in the KNIL and the 'Corps Marechaussee te voet', the Dutch counter-guerilla force.

The pics posted on this thread aren't - alas - representative of the KNIL.

There are some uniform guides but they are hidden in the vaults of the Royal Dutch Military Acedemy and the period photographs rarely show any distiguinished marks like ranks ec he main colour was dark blue. A small guide: Dutch in Atjeh forces wore a special jacket not unlike the 'Northern' ACW type. The tropical helmet was used until about 1910 and Marechaussee forces were armed with a Klewang and a carabine. This is were the Tiger figures went wrong. Also most troops were native, with only higher officers Dutch, so a column of only 'white dudes' is historically wrong. IIRC the standard work on the Atjeh/Aceh war by Paul in t Veer is also translated in Bahaia Indonesia.

[marco55]

I have been trying to track down info on the KNIL which is very hard.I have a question about their headgear in the Aceh War.It seems they started out with a kepi type then switched over to sun helmets.My question is when did they switched to the bush hat.I saw a photo of a cavalry unit with them in 1906 but that is the earliest I have a seen.
Mark

[juergen c. olk]

Checkout the uniformology site,,I; sure they did a reprint of theWalter Ruhl plates on the Nederlendeschen Armee..shows all their Colonial uniforms and such. I have posted some of this in 19th century FaceB ook page and Colonial wargaming FaceBook page. Also checkout the NewYork city public library Digital collection and check uniforms...also nice setup and Figures I converted RaFM 25mm Riel rebellion for Dutch.,,Look up Military uniforms and it will show Vinkhuijzen Collection,,hit that. i just checked uniformology doesn;t have the Dutch,

[S J Donovan]

Tiger Miniatures, in the UK and Recreational Conflict in the US, have KNIL figures for the Dutch East Indies campaigns in Ache.

[marco55]

Yes I have some of them them.Does anyone know if the Moros would pass for the Acehese?
Mark

[juergen c. olk]

,,For Moros Check out Old Glory and 1898 Miniatures....and they would be close ..nobody makes Aceh, Eureka makes Dayaks..I have those those ..they are awesome.

[marco55]

1898 doesn't have Moros yet.I heard that OG Moros aren't Moros but Filipinos.Tiger does make some Moros. http://www.recreationalconflict.com/
Mark