Älvsborg Regiment

The Älvsborg Regiment ( sv, Älvsborgs regemente), designation I 15 and I 15/Fo 34, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traces its origins back 1624. It was disbanded in 1998. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the provinces of Västergötland, and it was later garrisoned there in the town Borås.

Heraldry and traditions

Colours, standards and guidons

The regiment has carried a number of colours over the years. On 24 June 1854, the then crown prince, later King Charles XV presented the last battalion colours to the regiment. They were so called Oscar I type, and were presented at a summit on Axevalla heath. In 1904 the regiment adopted the 1st battalion's colour as regimental colour (which has been hanging in ''Älvsborgsmässen'' ("Älvsborg Mess") at Gothenburg Garrison since 1998).

Its last colour was presented to the former Älvsborg Regiment (I 15/Fo 34) at the Artillery Yard in Stockholm by the Supreme Commander, general Owe Wiktorin in 1996. It was used as regimental colour by I 15/Fo 34 until 1 July 1998. The colour was drawn by Ingrid Lamby and embroidered by machine in insertion technique by Maj Britt Salander/company Blå Kusten. Blazon: "The cloth divided six times in yellow and black, in the centre a circular shield with the badge of the regiment; azure, three wavy white bends sinister, charged with a yellow lion rampant with a royal crown proper, armed and langued gules, in the right forepaw a yellow sword and in the left a blue shield with three yellow crowns placed two and one. On the uppermost yellow length, battle honours ( Lützen 1632, Leipzig 1642, Helsingborg 1710, Gadebusch 1712, Nya Älvsborg 1719) in black".

After the regiment was disbanded, the colour was passed on to the Älvsborg Group (''Älvsborgsgruppen''). Since 1 July 2005, the colour is carried by Elfsborg Group (''Elfsborgsgruppen''). The Elfsborg Group is also the unit that keeps the regimental traditions. The pattern of the colour has basically been unchanged since the 1600s.

File:AM.019596.jpg, Battalion colour m/1849, for Älvsborg Regiment's 2nd battalion.
File:I15 fana 1849.JPG, Älvsborg Regiment's 1st battalion colour from 1858.
File:I15 fana 1996-98.JPG, 1996 regimental colour

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Älvsborg Regiment (I 15/Fo 34) 1977–1994 and the Älvsborg Brigade (''Älvsborgsbrigaden'', IB 15) 1994–1997. Blazon: "The regimental badge, with waves six times divided bendy-sinister azure and argent, a double-tailed crowned lion rampant or, armed and langued gules, in dexter forepaw a sword or and in sinister a shield azure charged with three open crowns or placed two and one. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire, or". The coat of arms of the Älvsborg Regiment (I 15/Fo 34) 1994–1997 and the Älvsborg Group (''Älvsborgsgruppen'') 1997–2004. Blazon: "Azur, the regimental badge, three waves bendy-sinister argent, a double-tailed crowned lion rampant or, armed and langued gules, in dexter forepaw a sword or and in sinister a shield azure charged with three open crowns or, placed two and one. The shield sur-mounted two swords in saltire, or."

File:Älvsborgsgruppen vapen.svg, Coat of arms of the Älvsborg Regiment (I 15/Fo 34) 1977–1994 and the Älvsborg Brigade (''Älvsborgsbrigaden'', IB 15) 1994–1997.
File:Älvsborgs regemente vapen.svg, Coat of the arms of the Älvsborg Regiment (I 15/Fo 34) 1994–1997 and the Älvsborg Group (''Älvsborgsgruppen'') 1997–2004.

Medals

In 1999, when the regiment was disbanded, the ''Älvsborgs regementes (I 15) minnesmedalj'' ("Älvsborg Regiment (I 15) Commemorative Medal") in silver (ÄlvsbregMM) was established. It consist of a Maltese cross in blue enamel. The medal ribbon is of red moiré with two blue stripes on the middle.

File:AM.019720.jpg, Älvsborg Regiment (I 15) Commemorative Medal

Commanding officers

Regimental commanders active at the regiment the years 1624–1998.

Commanders

*1624–16??: N Ribbing
*1698–1710: A Sparrfelt
*1710–1728: J von Mentzer
*1728–1739: J A Lillie
*1739–1747: Carl Otto Lagercrantz
*1747–1751: J L von Saltza
*1751–1763: R J von Lingen
*1763–1766: Fredrik Ribbing
*1766–1769: Johan Cronhielm
*1769–1781: B P von Wufrath
*1781–1800: H W Hamilton
*1800–1805: E Edenhielm
*1805–1810: Eberhard von Vegesack
*1810–1817: C Reuterskiöld
*1817–1869: J von Utfall
*1869–1886: P H Melin
*1886–1892: A A Thorén
*1892–1894: Christer Gustaf Oxehufvud
*1894–1898: L J P Liljencrantz
*1898–1903: Carl Axel Leonard Nordenadler
*1903–1906: Oscar Silverstolpe
*1906–1913: Gustaf Henrik Sjöqvist
*1913–1916: Adolf Erik Ludvig Lagercrantz
*1916–1920: Ernst Lars Isaac Silfverswärd
*1920–1927: Karl Alfred Rignell
*1927–1936: Axel Gustaf von Arbin
*1936–1938: Arvid Moberg
*1938–1942: Anders Teodor Bergquist
*1942–1951: Gunnar Fredrik Brinck
*1951–1956: Colonel Gustav Åkerman
*1956–1959: Colonel Erik Rosengren
*1959–1962: Bengt Uller
*1962–1966: Sigmund Ahnfelt
*1966–1975: Karl Gunnar Lundquist
*1975–1981: Senior colonel Åke Ingmar Lundberg
*1981–1986: Sven Henry Magnusson
*1986–1989: Per Blomqvist
*1989–1992: Svante Bergh
*1992–1998: Matts Uno Liljegren
*1998–1998: Nils Erling Krister Edvardsson

Deputy commanders

*1979–1981: Colonel Ingmar Arnhall

Names, designations and locations

See also

* List of Swedish infantry regiments

Footnotes

References

Notes

Print

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Further reading

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvsborg Regiment
Infantry regiments of the Swedish Army
Disbanded units and formations of Sweden
Military units and formations established in 1714
Military units and formations established in 1998