Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge)

Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge) Surabaya :
( Where the British Brigadier General Mallaby
was Killed in November 1945)

Translated as The Red Bridge which located at North Surabaya, in whose surrounding is one the most savage fightings ever seen on Java. The battle of Surabaya began on 10th November 1945, less than three months after the proclamation of the Indonesian independence day which readed in Jakarta and it was right here that Brigadir General Mallaby from England was killed. Further down the red bridge is the china town which surrounding packed with buildings of typical chinesse architectural and construction. It is still the most crowded business and trade center.

Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge) Area was a trade area that grows as the consequence of Paku Buwono II Agreement from Mataram with VOC by 11 Novembers 1743. In that agreement some of north coast areas, include Surabaya, delivered his domination to VOC. After that, Surabaya resided fully in Dutch power. Now, its position as the center trade is always taken place. Around the bridge, there is economics indicators, include one of them is Jembatan Merah Plaza.

Change of its physical happened around year of 1890-an, when its constrictor fence with the river changed from wood becomes iron. Now the bridge condition connects Rajawali Street and Kembang Jepun Street in north side of Surabaya, almost same with other bridge. Its difference is only the red color.

Because the strategic situation, hence Tanjung Perak port also the center sea transport of inters lair East Indonesia area. Ahead, Ocean ships unload and load its goods through lighters and boats that can reach Jembatan Merah (the first port by then) is reside in Surabaya city heart through Kalimas river. Because of the traffic commerce development and goods current improvement and the transportation current increase hence the dock facilities in Jembatan Merah finally fallen short.

Memorized the Heroic Event around Red Bridge (Jembatan Merah) Surabaya

To disarm Japan army, free interning Europe and cure the security safety in ex Japan occupy region in South-East Asia, include Indonesia, ally army (Allied Forces) assign Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, The Chief of Ally Army Commander In South-East Asia (Supreme Commander South East Asian Command).

For this duty, Mountbatten mobilizes 3 Divisions (British-Indian Divisions) and assisted by 2 Australian Divisions under General Morsehead.

But, besides the duty from Allied Forces, there is hidden agenda, which done by British army and Australian, that is assisting Dutch to get back at it country, as the agreement between English and Dutch in Chequers, near to London, on 24 Augusts 1945, named Civil Affairs Agreement, where agreed, that British army will clean strength armed of Republic of Indonesia, and deliver area which have " cleaned" to Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA).

British Battleship, HMS CUMBERLAND, has just arrived on 15 Septembers 1945 in Jakarta. Follow with this ship is Dr. Charles Olke van der Plas, former East Java Governor at colonization epoch India-Dutch.

While in Surabaya, British team, Brigade 49 of 23rd British-Indian Division with power of around 5000 personal arrive on 25 Octobers 1945 under Brigadier General Aulbertin Walter Sothern Mallaby led, had to disarm weapon that owned by Surabaya people and its surroundings, but have to get the firm from Republic of indonesia leaders in Surabaya.

After saw the strength that his faced, by 26 Octobers 1945, Mallaby give up and sign an approval with East Java Governor, Suryo, that disarmed was only Japan army, and Republic of Indonesia army didn't be disarmed.

But it happened communications mistake between the highest leaders of British army with Brigadier General Mallaby in Surabaya. In Jakarta, they decide, that all weapons that reside in Indonesian people hand, must be delivered to ally army, also in Surabaya. By 27 Octobers 1945 at 1100, one planes Dakota that directly come from Jakarta, propagate pamphlet in Surabaya and its surroundings, which tell an exclamation, that all weapon must be delivered to ally army within 2 x 24 hours.

red-bridge/index.htmlWith password " Groan is best defense" hence decided to: GROAN ENGLAND ARMY. That night also propagated to all the team and young man soldiers in Surabaya and its surroundings (Sidoarjo, Gresik, Mojokerto, etc) about the decision.

Morning on 28 Octobers 1945 started at 04.30, attack is done to 8 British defenses posts in Surabaya. We can say that its young men in Surabaya represented all Indonesia tribes.

Meanwhile, the encounter in Surabaya takes place seriously. Total blockade is done to British defenses posts. Aqueduct and electrics had killed. Logistics help that had drop through air by British plane fallen in England army post, and fall to Indonesia young men hand. Finally, on 29 Octobers 1945 mornings, in two places, for example in Darmo complex, which become one British defense posts, British army flied WHITEFLAG: SURENDER. Colonel dr. Wiliater Hutagalung received Captain Flower having nationality Australian to negotiate.
President Sukarno with Vice President Hatta and The Minister of Amir Rank Syarifuddin Harahap arrive on 29 October 1945 daytimes, and soon do a consultation with Brigadier General Mallaby. At that day signed approval of cease-fire named: “Armistice Agreement regarding the Surabaya Incident; a provisional agreement between President Soekarno of the Republic Indonesia and Brigadier Mallaby, concluded on the 29th October 1945”.

red-bridge/index.htmlThe next day, on 30 October 1945 daytimes, President Soekarno signs an approval with Division 23 Chief, Major General Douglas Cyril Hawthorn. Then, they soon return to Jakarta.

Evening, for the agenda of agreement dissemination of Soekarno-Hawthorn, arise crossfire incident in defense of England post in Internatio Building, near to Jembatan Merah. The incident triggered by gunfire that started by British army, as confessed by Team D commandant, Major Venu K. Gopal, staying in Internatio Building. The confession written on 8 Augusts 1974 to Australian writer, J.G.A. Parrot, who write book " Who killed Brigadier Mallaby?"

In the crossfire (cross fire), Mallaby, the commandant of Brigade 49, is then found to die. The English Side blame upper Indonesia for Mallaby died, but in reconstructing, very possibly Mallaby die because of the grenade that thrown by Captain RC. Smith. The grenade throwing that result the combustible of car that boarded by Mallaby confessed by Smith in his letters to J.G.A. Parrot, al. by 23 Novembers 1973 and 20 February 1974.