Regiment Medical Troops

The Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen (Regiment Medical Troops) is the medical regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht). Its motto, "Eripiendo Victoriae Prosum" ("By helping, I serve the victory"), reflects its role as the caring force behind every army operation. The regiment is responsible for all medical care within the Royal Netherlands Army, both in peacetime and on deployment. It traces its origins to 7 April 1869, when a Royal Decree added two companies of hospital soldiers (hospitaalsoldaten) to the infantry, with the first medical company stationed in Amsterdam and the second in Utrecht. Over the following decades the unit expanded, and in 1936 the name "hospitaalsoldaten" was replaced by "geneeskundige troepen" (medical troops). After the Second World War, the Geneeskundige Troepen were re-established on 7 January 1946 as the Depot Geneeskundige Troepen, and in July of that year they received the name Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen. The regiment's traditions also absorbed those of the medical service of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). In late 1993, by Royal Decree, the Geneeskundige Dienst and the Geneeskundige Troepen were merged into the Dienstvak Geneeskundige Dienst Koninklijke Landmacht, which took over the traditions and colours of the regiment. In October 2001 this service branch was incorporated into the Dienstvak van de Logistiek, but the Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen continued to exist as a regiment. Today the regiment is based in Ermelo and maintains a historical collection, a veterans' association (LVVGNKD), and a Buddy Support programme that provides low-threshold support through conversation and a listening ear. It also organises ceremonies, such as the oath-taking of personnel and the Sunset March in Nijmegen. The regiment has been deployed in numerous conflicts and missions, from the Belgian Revolt and the Aceh War to the Korean War, the Yugoslav Wars, the Rwandan Genocide, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, and the intervention against IS. Its personnel have received many bravery decorations, including the Military Order of William (Militaire Willems-Orde). The regiment celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019.

The Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen is a unit of the Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) responsible for all medical care within the army. Its history is closely tied to the development of organised military medical services in the Netherlands. Before the 19th century, organised medical care for troops in the field was minimal. The introduction of conscription in 1814 by King William I brought greater attention to the medical care of soldiers. That same year, Professor Dr. S.J. Brugmans was appointed inspector of the Military Medical Service. He established a medicine depot and a school for military doctors. Internationally known Dutch army doctors such as Dr. J.H.C. Basting, a close associate of Henri Dunant, and Dr. A. Mathijsen, the inventor of the plaster cast, came from this school. The history of the Military Medical Service is also closely linked to the founding of the International Red Cross in 1864. The regiment's official founding date is 7 April 1869, when a Royal Decree stated that "the infantry arm is increased by two companies of hospital soldiers." The first medical company was stationed in Amsterdam and the second in Utrecht. Later, hospital soldiers were also added to the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). Around 1900 the number of medical companies doubled. In 1936 the name "hospital soldiers" was replaced by "medical troops" (geneeskundige troepen). After the Second World War, the Geneeskundige Troepen were firmly embedded in the new army organisation. On 7 January 1946 they were re-established as the Depot Geneeskundige Troepen, and in July of that year the name became Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen. Until 1950 the organisational structure changed frequently. From that time, the traditions of the KNIL medical service also fell under the regiment. Four years later, the Dienstvak Geneeskundige Troepen was created. At the end of 1993, by Royal Decree, the Geneeskundige Dienst and Geneeskundige Troepen were brought together in the Dienstvak Geneeskundige Dienst Koninklijke Landmacht. This service branch took over the tradition and colours of the Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen Koninklijke Landmacht. In October 2001, the Dienstvak Geneeskundige Dienst Koninklijke Landmacht was absorbed into the Dienstvak van de Logistiek. The Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen continued to exist. In its 140 years of existence (as of the Wikipedia article), many members have been deployed. Personnel of the medical troops have been sent on all missions of the Royal Netherlands Army and the KNIL, either individually or in unit formations. Important wars and conflicts in which members of the regiment were deployed include the Belgian Revolt, the Ten Days' Campaign, the Siege of Antwerp, the Aceh War, the Djambi Uprising, the Lombok War, the Expedition to Korintji, the Expedition to Bali, the Second World War, the Police Actions in the Dutch East Indies, the Korean War, the Lebanese Civil War, the War in the former Yugoslavia, the Rwandan Genocide, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, the Pakistan earthquake, the War in Afghanistan, the civil war in Mali, and the military intervention against IS. Up to the Second World War, at least 137 medical soldiers were decorated with the Military Order of William (Militaire Willems-Orde), mainly during deployments in the Southern Netherlands and with the KNIL in the Indonesian Archipelago. Since the outbreak of the Second World War, at least 58 soldiers of the Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen have received a bravery decoration, including three Military Order of William 4th class. The best known is probably corporal nurse J.M.P. van Oudheusden, who was posthumously appointed Knight of the Military Order of William 4th class on 19 July 1946 for actions on 10 May 1940 near Ypenburg airfield. Other recipients include Tajib of Tojib (posthumous, for actions on 6 March 1942 at the Tjiater position near Bandoeng, Java) and G.M.H. Veeneklaas (for actions as liaison officer in occupied Netherlands in 1944). Bronze Lion recipients include J.D. Camerling Hemolt (posthumous, for caring for wounded under fire between 12 and 14 May 1940 in Leersum), A.L. Oosterhuis, P.A. Roodenburg (posthumous), J.P. van der Schroeff, and E.D. Tan. In 2019 the regiment celebrated its 150th anniversary, and its website was renewed that year.

• 2019

  The regiment celebrates its 150th anniversary; its website is renewed.

• 2001

  October: The Dienstvak Geneeskundige Dienst Koninklijke Landmacht is absorbed into the Dienstvak van de Logistiek; the regiment continues to exist.

• 1993

  By Royal Decree, the Geneeskundige Dienst and Geneeskundige Troepen merge into the Dienstvak Geneeskundige Dienst Koninklijke Landmacht.

• 1954

  Creation of the Dienstvak Geneeskundige Troepen.

• 1950

  Traditions of the KNIL medical service come under the regiment; organisational structure stabilises.

• 1946

  7 January: Re-established as Depot Geneeskundige Troepen; in July renamed Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen.

• 1936

  The name 'hospitaalsoldaten' (hospital soldiers) is replaced by 'geneeskundige troepen' (medical troops).

• 1869

  7 April: Royal Decree adds two companies of hospital soldiers to the infantry, marking the founding of the Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen.

• 1864

  Founding of the International Red Cross in Geneva, closely linked to the history of the Dutch Military Medical Service.

• 1814

  Introduction of conscription by King William I; Professor Dr. S.J. Brugmans appointed inspector of the Military Medical Service.

The medical regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army, providing the caring force behind every operation.

• Military medical care

  All medical care within the Royal Netherlands Army, including combat casualty care and medical logistics.

• Buddy Support

  Low-threshold support programme emphasising good conversation, a listening ear, and a helping hand.

• LVVGNKD

  Veterans' association maintaining bonds between veterans who serve or have served in the regiment.

• Historical collection

  Collection known in military and civilian medical circles, preserving the regiment's history.

1. 1Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen - Homeregimentgeneeskundigetroepen.nl
2. 2Regiment Medical Troops - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen - Wikipedia (NL)nl.wikipedia.org