Västmanlands Infantry
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Origin and History
The regiment was initially raised in 1617 as the Upplands Storeregement, one of the nine Grand Regiment organised by Gustavus Adolphus. It incorporated various fänikors (smaller units of about 500 men) from Uppland, Dalarna and Västmanland and has accordingly the same origins of the Dalarnas regiment.
In 1626, this Grand Regiment was organised into sub-units: three field regiments (Uppland, Dalarna and Västmanland) and a cavalry regiment (Uppland).
On December 5 1682, the Grand Regiment was finally broken down into three distinct and independent regiments, giving birth to the Västmanlands Infantry Regiment.
In the Great Northern War was at the landing in Zealand (1700). Transferred to Livland and in the King army thereafter. Captured after Poltava (1709). Reraised and in the Skane campaign (1710). With Stenbock in Germany (1712): captured at Tönningen. Raised again and in the Norwegian campaigns of 1716 and 1718.
At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment consisted of 1,200 privates in 2 battalions of 4 companies. Each company had 150 privates and 11 officers, NCOs and musicians.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:
- S. G. Stjerneld
Service during the War
In 1757, six companies (about 1,000 men) of the regiment were sent to campaign in Pomerania. On December 27, a detachment of 50 men was among the Swedish force which was sent out of Trebel to chase away a force of Prussian cavalry reconnoitring the Swedish positions. During its approach of the Prussian scouting party, the Swedish force was attacked by a larges body of cavalry. The Swedish cavalry fled the field after firing a single volley. Västmanland Infantry was left on its own and fought back bravely, loosing 18 men and 2 officers before returning to the camp. On December 30, another detachment of 120 men was part of the Swedish force defending the crossing at Nehringen. They were ordered to retreat on Triebsees in front of an attacking Prussian force and undertook a fighting retreat in good order without casualties.
On September 26 1758, a detachment of 300 men of the regiment took part in the engagement of Tarmow. It resisted six consecutive cavalry charges before retreating in good order. Two days later, on September 28, the regiment reinforced the Swedish troops at Fehrbellin just in time to turn the tide of the battle. On November 18, a detachment of the regiment was part of General von Lingen's force at the Combat of Güstow.
On September 16 1759, during the campaign of Pomerania, volunteers of the regiment took part in the assault and capture of the fortified town of Wollin, attacking the Wicker Gate and the Swine Gate. On October 1, when Fersen's Corps left the Oder Islands to join the Swedish Main Army in Pasewalk, volunteers of the regiment were left behind to defend the islands.
The regiment continued to serve in Pomerania until 1761.
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear |
| ||||||||||||
| Neckstock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | dark blue with 10 tin buttons down the front with yellow trimmed buttonholes and 2 tin buttons at small of the back
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| Waistcoat | yellow | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | yellow | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | white stockings 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 any sash
Horses were equipped with blue housing with a yellow border.
Musicians
The uniform of the drummers were yellow with the addition of plain white swallows nest on each shoulder. There were no other lace on the sleeves, etc.
The drums were brass with 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 3 smoking blue mountains.
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): white field with 8 blue flames (yellow as per Schirmer); centre device consisting of 3 smoking blue mountains surrounded by a green laurel wreath tied with a gold ribbon.
 Liffana - Source: Hannoverdidi |
 Kompanifana - Source: Hannoverdidi |
The colonel's battalion carried the Liffana and a Kompanifana. The lieutenant-colonel's battalion carried 2 Kompanifanor.
References
Economic Expert: Uplandia 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 - Västmanlands 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.
