The Halland Regiment (), designations I 16 and I 16/Fo 31, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the provinces of Västergötland and Dalsland, but it was later garrisoned in Halland. The unit was disbanded as a result of the disarmament policies set forward in the Defence Act of 2000.
History The regiment has its origins in fänikor (companies) raised in Västergötland and Dalsland in the 16th century. In 1615, these units were organised by Gustav II Adolf into Västergötlands storregemente. Västergötlands storregemente consisted of three field regiments, of which Västgöta-Dals Regiment was one. Sometime between 1621 and 1624, the grand regiment was permanently split into three smaller regiments, of which Västgöta-Dals Regiment was one.
Västgöta-Dals Regiment was one of the original 20 Swedish infantry regiments mentioned in the Swedish constitution of 1634. The regiment's first commander was Wilhelm von Salzburg. It was allotted in 1685. The regiment was given the designation I 16 (16th Infantry Regiment) in a general order in 1816.
In 1902 the regiment changed recruitment area to Halland and was garrisoned in Halmstad. The name was changed to Halland Regiment to reflect this. In 1975, the regiment gained the new designation I 16/Fo 31 as a consequence of a merge with the local defence district Fo 31. The regiment was disbanded in 2000.
Campaigns The Polish War (1600–1629) The Thirty Years' War (1630–1648) The Northern Wars (1655–1661) The Scanian War (1674–1679) The Great Northern War (1700–1721) The Seven Years' War (1757–1762) The Gustav III's Russian War (1788–1790) The Franco-Swedish War (1805–1810) The Finnish War (1808–1809) The Campaign against Norway (1814)
Organisation
1685(?) Livkompaniet Överstelöjtnantens kompani Majorens kompani Sun- och Nordals kompani Tössbo kompani Kållands kompani Vedbo kompani Kullings kompani
1814(?) Livkompaniet Forssa kompani Järvsö kompani Delsbo kompani Färnebo kompani Arbrå kompani Alfta kompani Ovansjö kompani
Heraldry and traditions
Colours, standards and guidons On 7 June 1952, the regiment was presented with the first colour with the provincial badge of Halland. The 1952 colour was presented by Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland. Until 1952, the colours of the regiment had been the colour of Västergötland (black and yellow), though the regiment since 1906 was located in province of Halland. When the regiment received the "Hallandian" colour, the colour of Halland (blue and white) was adopted. The last regimental colour was presented to the regiment (I 16/Fo 31) in Halmstad by the Chief of Army Staff, lieutenant general Åke Sagrén on 7 July 1994. It was used as regimental colour by I 16/Fo 31 until 1 July 2000. The colour is drawn by Bengt Olof Kälde and embroidered by machine in insertion technique by the company Libraria. Blazon: "On blue cloth the provincial badge of Halland; a white lion rampant, armed red. On a white border at the upper side of the colour, battle honours (Lützen 1632, Leipzig 1642, Lund 1676, Gadebusch 1712) i blue."
Coat of arms The coat of the arms of the Halland Regiment (I 16/Fo 31) 1977–1994 and the Halland Brigade (, IB 16) 1994–2000. Blazon: "Azure, the provincial badge of Halland, a double-tailed lion rampant argent, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire or". The coat of arms of the Halland Regiment (I 16/Fo 31) 1994–2000 and the Halland Group () since 2000. Blazon: "Azure, the provincial badge of Halland, a double-tailed lion rampant argent, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two swords in saltire or".
Medals In 2000, the ("Halland Regiment (I 16) and Halland Brigade (IB 16) Commemorative Medal") in silver (HallregbrigSMM) of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is of blue moiré with a black stripe on the middle followed on each side by a yellow stripe, then a white stripe and last a red line.
Heritage The Halland Group () is the traditional keeper of the regimental heritage and traditions, and organizes under the Air Defence Regiment (Lv 6). The Halland Group took over the colour and traditions in connection with the disbandment of the regiment and the brigade on 30 June 2000. From 1 July 2013, the traditions of the regiment will be continued by Halland Battalion (), part of the Halland Group.
Other Rudolf Petersson, creator of the comic ("A military man's experiences and adventures"), now 91:an, made his military service at Halland Regiment which is the model for Klackamo Heath, where Mandel Karlsson, 87:an Axelsson and the others in the 91:an comic book did their military service.
Commanding officers Regimental commanders active at the regiment 1924–2000. Göran Cunnighame was the first to be named regimental commander.
Commanders
10 March 1624: Welham von Salzburg (acting) 1625–1632: Göran Cunnighame 1632–1651: Nils Kagg 1651–1657: Johan Stake 1657–1660: Gustaf Oxenstierna 1660–1680: Vilhelm Jernsköld 1680–1691: David Macklier 1691–1705: Johan Fägerskiöld 1705–1716: Georg Reinhold Patkull 1710–1712: N Palmfelt (acting) 1713–1716: B C Wulfrath (acting) 1716–1732: Libert Rosenstierna 1732–1735: Johan Fredrik Didron 1735–1745: Karl Ollonberg 1745–1749: Karl Lillie 1749–1766: Erik Lybecker 1766–1769: Ulrik Scheffer 1769–1769: Klaes Kristoffer Ekeblad 1769–1770: Karl Gustav Strömschiöld 1770–1773: Joen Filip Klingspor 1773–1779: Abraham Daniel Schönström 1779–1785: Fredrik Posse 1785–1793: Gustav Cronhielm 1793–1796: Gustav Lewenhaupt 1796–1811: Karl Bunge 1811–1816: Carl Löwenhielm 1816–1817: Gustav Fredrik Vilhelm Gyllenram 1817–1838: Wilhelm Albrecht Dorchimont 1838–1847: Axel Vilhelm Ehrengranat 1847–1853: Polykarpus Erik Cronhielm 1853–1864: Klaes Samuel Sandels 1864–1871: Lage Evald Posse 1871–1882: Eggert Elers 1882–1890: Otto Taube 1890–1890: Pontus Henrik Vilhelm Reuterswärd 1890–1894: Karl Oskar Unaeus 1894–1902: Otto Vilhelm Löwenborg (namnbyte) 1902–1909: Karl Vilhelm Emanuel Ankarcrona 1909–1917: Emil Mörcke 1917–1926: Peter Hegardt 1926–1932: Reinhold Geijer 1932–1937: Gösta Bratt 1937–1938: Colonel Axel Gyllenkrook 1938–1940: Nils Bildt 1941–1944: Ivar Lindqvist 1944–1947: Henrik Wrede 1947–1951: M Hedenlund 1951–1954: P Lande 1954–1957: Carl Klingenstierna 1957–1959: Colonel Arne Mohlin 1959–1960: Colonel Tage Olihn 1960–1968: Nils Juhlin 1968–1976: Lage Wernstedt 1976–1980: Senior colonel Carl-Gustaf Tiselius 1980–1983: Gustaf Malmström 1983–1988: R Morell 1988–1993: G Wetterlundh 1993–1995: P Källström 1995–1996: P Jonsson 1996–1998: Senior colonel Mats Welff 1998–2000: Arne Hedman
Deputy commanders 1976–19??: Colonel Arne Månsson
Names, designations and locations Name Translation From To Royal Västgöta-Dals Regiment 1624-03-10 – 1713-05-06 Royal Västgöta-Dals Regiment 1713-??-?? – 1901-12-31 Royal Halland Regiment 1902-01-01 – 1974-12-31 Halland Regiment 1975-01-01 – 1975-06-30 Halland Regiment and Defence District 1975-07-01 – 2000-06-30 Decommissioning Organisation Halland 2000-07-01 – 2001-03-31 Designation From To № 16 1816-10-01 – 1914-09-30 I 16 1914-10-01 – 1974-06-30 I 16/Fo 31 1975-07-01 – 2000-06-30 Location From To Nygårdsängen 1685-??-?? – 1863-05-04 Grunnebo hed 1863-05-05 – 1906-09-30 Skedalahed 1903-07-01 – 1906-09-30 Halmstad Garrison 1906-10-01 – 2001-03-31
See also List of Swedish infantry regiments
Footnotes
References
Notes
Further reading