The Älvsborg Regiment (), 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.
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."
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.
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 Name Translation From To Kungl. Älvsborgs regemente Royal Älvsborg Regiment 1624–03–10 – 1713-05-06 Kungl. Älvsborgs regemente Royal Älvsborg Regiment 1714-??-?? – 1974-12-31 Älvsborgs regemente Älvsborg Regiment 1975-01-01 – 1998-06-30 Designation From To No. 15 1816-10-01 – 1914-09-30 I 15 1914-10-01 – 1975-06-30 I 15/Fo 34 1975-01-01 – 1998-06-30 Location From To Timmele Heath 1685-??-?? – 1770-??-?? Kila Heath 1770-??-?? – 1783-??-?? Örby Heath 1783-??-?? – 1796-??-?? Fristad hed 1797-??-?? – 1914-??-?? Borås Garrison 1914-??-?? – 1998-06-30
See also List of Swedish infantry regiments
Footnotes
References
Notes
Further reading