Gorkum, Jan Egbertus van

VAN GORKUM,

JAN EGBERTUS

by Geert van Uythoven

Batavian Army 1795 - 1806

Jan Egbertus van Gorkum started his military career on 10 August 1802, as an Extra-ordinaris ingenieur (= aspirant-engineer used as an auxiliary where ever needed. In this way, experience could be gained for a further career in the engineers). During the last months of 1805, he was order to move from Bergen op Zoom to Amsterdam, to bring this city together with other engineers into a state of defence against a possible British invasion attempt. This duty lasted until 21 December.

Dutch Army 1806 - 1810

1806 when Louis Bonaparte became king of the Kingdom of Holland, Van Gorkum transferred to its army. He saw no fighting in Germany or Spain during this period. Nevertheless, on 8 August 1808 he was promoted Eerste luitenant-ingenieur [1st lieutenant-engineer] in the army of the Kingdom of Holland. When the Dutch Kingdom became a part of the French Empire, Van Gorkum transferred to the French army.

French Army 1810 - 1814

Van Gorkum became captain of the engineers in the French army. He left French service in Antwerp in December 1813 and immediately offered his services to general Graham. van Gorkum designed and proposed the plan for a surprise attack on Bergen op Zoom to General Graham. Participating in this night attack which indeed was executed on 8 March 1814, although not completely according to his plans, he was slightly wounded.

Netherlands Army 1814 - 1815

As a captain, Jan Egbertus van Gorkum entered the Netherlands army, seemingly as an infantry officers but constantly serving in staff duties. On 11 April 1814 he is listed in the order of battle of the Netherlands Mobile Army at Roosendaal, where we find him ‘at the service of the quartermaster-general’. On 1 August 1814 he serves as a major at the headquarters of the army corps destined for the occupation of the Southern Netherlands. During the Waterloo campaign, Van Gorkum serves with the Quartermaster-Generals Field Department. Explicitly not with the engineers though! Appointed 4th Class Knight of the Militaire Willemsorde with KB No.17, 11 August 1815.

Later years 1815 - 1834

In 1816, it was decided that a team of engineers would map the southern border as well as these provinces, and to rebiuld the necessary fortresses and defence works. The undertaking took years: promoted colonel, from 2 June 1817 on Van Gorkum led the so-called ‘reconnaissance-brigade’ which consisted of about twenty staff-officers. On 10 January 1827, Van Gorkum was appointed 2nd adjunct of the staff-general. He became major-general of infantry in the Netherlands army on 13 February 1824. He was pensioned out of the army in 1841. He died before 1866. In 1862, his description of the surprise-attack on Bergen op Zoom was printed: “De bestorming der vesting Bergen op Zoom, op den 8sten Maart 1814” (Leiden 1862).