Närke-Värmlands Infantry
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Origin and History
The regiment was initially raised in 1614 as the “Södermanlands Grand Regiment”, one of the nine grand regiments organised by Gustavus Adolphus. It incorporated various fänikors (smaller units of about 500 men) from Södermanlands, Närke and Värmlands.
In 1624, this grand regiment was organised into sub-units: three field regiments (Närke, Värmlands and Södermanlands) and one cavalry regiment. Two of these units were soon merged into a single one: the Närke-Värmlands Infantry.
In 1634, a government regulation ranked the Södermanlands Regiment as fourth among the infantry regiments.
On December 5 1682, the grand regiment was finally broken down into distinct and independent "Indelta" regiments, giving birth to the Närke-Värmlands Infantry regiments.
Four Värmlands companies remained at home to protect the border, while six companies were transferred to Livland in 1700-01 and with the King's Army thereafter. In Rehnskiöld's Corps 1705-06. Captured after Poltava. Reraised and went to Germany with 1.200 men in 1712. Captured at Tönningen but raised again. Norwegian campaigns of 1716-18.
At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment exceptionally consisted of 1,674 troopers in 2 battalions of 5 companies. Each company had 150 troopers and 11 officers, NCOs and musicians.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:
- F. Ribbing
Service during the War
In August 1757, a battalion of the regiment (4 coys, about 600 men) was part of the expeditionary force sent to Pomerania under Field Marshal Mathias Alexander von Ungern Sternberg. The regiment remained in Pomerania until 1761.
In 1758, 3 additional companies (500 men) of the regiment were sent to Pomerania to reinforce the Swedish expeditionary force operating against Prussia. They joined the army in July. In September, the 2 bns were part of the field army, where they were deployed in Kalling’s Brigade in the second line of the infantry left wing.
By August 21, 1759, a detachment of 475 men of the regiment were part of the main army , which was posted on the Peene River. On September 10, 1 battalion took part in the naval combat of Neuwarp. In December, 7 companies of the regiment, under Captain Baron Nils Diurclow, reinforced the line of defence between Tribsees and Loitz; while 7 other companies formed part of the reserve and were transferred to Lingen’s Corps late in the month.
On October 3, 1760, a battalion of the regiment successfully defended Pasewalk against a Prussian attack.
At the opening of the campaign of 1761, 1 bn was part of the field army of General Augustin Ehrensvärd. On December 20, Major Knobelsdorf's detachment a detachment of the Närke-Värmlands Infantry. The same day, at Gültzow (present-day Gültzowshof just north of Loitz), another detachment (280 men) of the Närke-Värmlands Infantry, supported by a battery under Lieutenant Johan Gabriel Unge, repulsed a Prussian column (about 400 men of I./Hordt and 4 sqns of Belling Hussars).
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear |
| ||||||||||||
| Neckstock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | dark blue with 10 tin buttons down the front with red trimmed buttonholes and 2 tin buttons at small of the back
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| Waistcoat | red | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | red | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | white stocking with brown leather strap at knee | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
|
Troopers were armed with a sword and a musket. The bayonet was permanently fixed to the musket.
Other interpretations
Schirmer as well as Pengel and Hurt mention white trimmed buttonholes.
NCOs
NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following distinctions:
- a silver lace on the tricorne
- brass buttons (smaller than those of officers)
NCOs carried halberds but no cane.
Officers
Officers wore a blue uniform (coat) with blue distinctives (collar, cuffs, turnbacks). They were further distinguished from privates by:
- a gold lace on the tricorne
- no turnbacks on the coat
- a silver gorget
- brass buttons
- blue or black breeches (breeches of the same colour as those of the privates were also worn)
N.B.: contrarily to the custom in other armies, Swedish officers did not wear sash
Horses were equipped with blue housing with a red border.
Musicians
Around 1720, the uniform of the drummers of the regiment had a red coat with a blue collar edged white, slit blue cuffs edged white, and blue turnbacks, the pockets of the coat were edged white and the seams were covered by a white braid; the waistcoat was blue; the breeches, yellow; the stockings, blue.
The drums were brass with the provincial coats of arms embossed on the front. The rims were blue with yellow edging.
Colours
The pikes used as staffs to carry the colours were always yellow. The Liffana had gold finials while the Kompanifana had steel finials. The colours measured 2.12 x 1.70 m. (1.81 x 1.33 m. as per Clifford).
Liffana (colonel flag): white field; centre device carried the crowned royal arms of Sweden flanked by 2 crowned golden lions; the outer corner of the first canton carried 2 crossed golden arrows and 4 white roses.
N.B.: for the liffana, Clifford adds a pedestal supporting the arms, the letters “AFRS” above the arms and 1 royal crown in the corner of each of the 3 remaining cantons.
Kompanifana (ordonnance flag): crimson field; centre device consisting of 2 crossed golden arrows and 4 white roses; the whole surrounded by a green laurel wreath tied with a gold ribbon.
The colonel's battalion carried the Liffana and a Kompanifana. The lieutenant-colonel's battalion carried 2 Kompanifanor.
References
Economic Expert: Sudermannia Grand Regiment (website)
Großer Generalstab: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen - Dritter Teil: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Vol. 6 Leuthen, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher), Berlin 1904, pp.92-107, Annex pp. 11-16
Höglund, Lars-Eric and Ake Sallnäs: The Great Northern War 1700-1721, Colours and Uniforms, Acedia Press, Karlstadt, 2000
Pengel, R. D. and G. R. Hurt: Swedish Army in Pomerania – 1757-1763, Birmingham, 1983
Purky, Jim: Swedish Army Organization, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No. 1
Säwe, Teofron: Sveriges deltagande i Sjuåriga Kriget Åren 1757-1762, Beijers Bokförlagsaktiebolag, Stockholm, 1915
Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, Neuauflage 1989
Schorr, Dan: Swedish Flags 1757-1762 - Part II Infantry Flags, The Courrier, March-April 1980
Schorr, Dan: Uniforms of the Swedish Army, 1757-1762, The Courrier, June-July 1979
Swedish War Archives, Sketches of infantry uniforms
English Wikipedia - Närke-Värmlands regemente
Wilson, Peter: The Swedish Army in 1756, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No. 1
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
Acknowledgements
Joseph Hillen-Keene for the information on the uniforms of the drummers of the regiment circa 1720.
