Västernorrland Regiment

Västernorrland Regiment
	Västernorrlands regemente
Active	1869–1983, 1991–2000
Country	Sweden
Allegiance	Swedish Armed Forces
Branch	Swedish Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Part of	5th Military District (1869–1888); 6th Military District (1889–1893); 6th Army Division (1893–1901); VI Army Division (1902–1927); Northern Army Division (1928–1936); II Army Division (1937–1942); II Military District (1942–1966); Lower Norrland Military District (1966–1983); Sollefteå Army Garrison (1983–1990); Lower Norrland Military District (1990–1993); Northern Military District (1993–1997)
Garrison/HQ	Sollefteå
Motto(s)	För ditt land, Din hembygd, Ditt regemente[note 1] ("For your country, your hometown, your regiment")
Colors	Green and white
March	"Västernorrlands regementes marsch" (Rydberg, Faust)[note 2]
Insignia
Branch insignia m/60
Unit insignia m/60

The Västernorrland Regiment (Swedish: Västernorrlands regemente), designation I 21/Fo 23, was a Swedish Army infantry unit which operated in various forms the years 1869-1983 and 1991-2000. It was located in Sollefteå Garrison in Sollefteå.

Barracks and training areas

Barracks

When the Allotment system was abolished and the conscript army was introduced in the early 20th century, the regiment moved to the newly built barracks in Sollefteå on 5 April 1911. However, the fact that the regiment was moved to Sollefteå was not a matter of course, when the army proposed that the regiment should be placed in Härnösand. The regimental commander Selander expressed himself: "A barracks in Sollefteå would become morally ruinous for the officers." For strategic reasons, partly because of the Forsmo Bridge, it was decided that the regiment should be placed in Sollefteå.[3]

The barracks establishment was built according to the 1901 Defense Reform Building Program, following the Fortifikationen's drawings for infantry barracks establishment. A total of 80 buildings were built in the area during its active time. On 1 July 1992, the barracks area was abandoned on Trängvägen, and Norrland Train Regiment (Norrlands trängregemente, T 3) was co-located with the Västernorrland Regiment on Regementsvägen. When the garrison was concentrated on Regementsvägen, a larger extension of the garages and storage areas was made in autumn of 1993. After the garrison was disbanded, the area was sold to Vasallen, which developed the area for residential and office space.[4][5]

Training areas

The regiment trained at Sånga mo and Sollefteå camp before moving to Sollefteå in 1911. In Sollefteå, the regiment was trained at Tjärnmyran's proving ground.[5][6]

Detachment

In connection with the disbandment of Sundsvall Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Sundsvalls luftvärnsregemente, Lv 5) on 30 June 1982, the operation was resumed in a decommissioning organisation from 1 July 1982. The decommissioning organisation in Sundsvall was subordinated and administered by the Västernorrland Regiment. The decommissioning organisation was dissolved on 31 December 1982.[6] From 1 July 1982 a department was located in the former regimental barracks in Sundsvall where the schoolhouse and a barracks were used for voluntary activities.[7]

Heraldry and traditions

Colours, standards and guidons

A colour was presented to the Royal Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) at Nipvallen in Sollefteå by His Majesty the King Gustaf VI Adolf on 16 August 1960. It was used as regimental colour by I 21/Fo 23 until 1 July 2000. The colour was drawn by Brita Grep and embroidered by hand in insertion technique by the company Libraria.[8] Blazon: "Per pale the provincial badge of Ångermanland; on blue three white salmons in pale, armed red, the middle one sinisterset, and the provincial badge of Medelpad; with waves four times divided in blue, white, red, white and blue."[8]

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Västernorrland Regiment (I 21/Fo 23) 1977–1994 and the Ångermanland Brigade (Ångermanlandsbrigaden, NB 21) 1994–2000. Blazon: "Per pale azure, the provincial badge of Ångermanland, three salmons naiant in pale, the middle one sinister set, armed gules, and the provincial badge of Medelpad; with waves four times divided, azure, argent, gules, argent and azure. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire or".[9] The coat of arms of the Västernorrland Regiment (I 21/Fo 23) 1994–2000 and the Västernorrland Group (Västernorrlandsgruppen) 2000–2004. Blazon: "Per pale azure, the provincial badge of Ångermanland, three salmons naiant in pale, the middle one sinister set, armed gules and the provincial badge of Medelpad; with waves four times divided, azure, argent, gules, argent and azure. The shield surmounted two swords in saltire or".[9]

Coat of arms of the Västernorrland Regiment (I 21/Fo 23) 1977–1994 and the Ångermanland Brigade (Ångermanlandsbrigaden, NB 21) 1994–2000.
Coat of the arms of the Västernorrland Regiment (I 21/Fo 23) 1994–2000 and the Västernorrland Group (Västernorrlandsgruppen) 2000–2004.

Medals

In 1974, the Västernorrlands regementes (I 21) och Ångermanlandsbrigadens (NB 21) förtjänstmedalj ("Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) and Ångermanland Brigade (NB 21) Medal of Merit") in gold and silver (VnorregÅngbrigGM/SM) of the 9th size was established. The medal ribbon is divided in green and white moiré.[10]

In 2000, the Västernorrlands regementes (I 21) och Ångermanlandsbrigadens (NB 21) minnesmedalj ("Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) and Ångermanland Brigade (NB 21) Commemorative Medal") in silver (VnorrlregÅngermbrigMSM) of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is divided in green, white, green, white and green.[11]

Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) and Ångermanland Brigade (NB 21) Medal of Merit in gold
Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) and Ångermanland Brigade (NB 21) Medal of Merit in silver

Commanding officers

Battalion and regimental commanders from 1869 to 2000.[12] From 1974, the commanding officer was referred to as Defence District Commander, and held the rank of Colonel 1st Class. The regimental commander was from 1983 to 1990 also the commanding officer of Sollefteå Army Garrison (SAG).[13]

1869–1873: Axel Georg Wästfelt
1873–1883: Carl Theodor Alexander Biörck
1883–1888: Sven Hjalmar Thestrup
1888–1893: Carl Vilhelm Knut von Rosen
1893–1899: Axel Gustaf Laurell
1899–1907: Nils Johan Teodor Selander
1907–1908: Hugo William Hamilton
1908–1913: Knut Johan Wilhelm Bergenstråhle
1913–1918: Carl Henrik Ulrik Scheffer
1918–1923: Bo Boustedt
1923–1930: Olof Herman Sundberg
1930–1935: Thord Richard Evers
1935–1937: Folke Högberg
1937–1942: Gösta Hollström
1942–1947: Magnus Elias Hedenlund
1947–1954: Erland Fredrik Lindhammar
1954–1958: Gustaf Wilhelm Reutersvärd
1958–1962: Georg von Boisman
1962–1963: Stig Synnergren
1963–1974: Anders Kjellgren
1974–1974: Bengt Sjöberg
1974–1977: Ingemar Grunditz
1978–1982: Bengt Sjöberg
1982–1983: Åke Sagrén
1983–1987: Lennart Rönnberg
1987–1989: Göte Bergerbrant
1989–1993: Karl Forssberg
1993–1997: Bo Svensson
1997–2000: Hans Georg Aminoff

Names, designations and locations

Name	Translation	From		To
Kungl. Västernorrlands beväringsbataljon	Royal Västernorrland Conscript Battalion	1869-03-29	–	1886-12-31
Kungl. Västernorrlands bataljon	Royal Västernorrland Battalion	1887-01-01	–	1892-12-31
Kungl. Västernorrlands regemente	Royal Västernorrland Regiment	1893-01-01	–	1974-06-30
Kungl. Västernorrlands regemente och försvarsområde	Royal Västernorrland Regiment and Defence District	1974-07-01	–	1974-12-31
Västernorrlands regemente och försvarsområde	Västernorrland Regiment and Defence District	1975-01-01	–	1983-06-30
Västernorrlands regemente och försvarsområde	Västernorrland Regiment and Defence District	1991-07-01	–	2000-06-30
Avvecklingsorganisation Ångermanland	Decommissioning Organisation Ångermanland	2000-07-01	–	2001-06-30
Designation		From		To
№ 29		1893-01-01	–	1901-12-31
№ 28		1902-01-01	–	1914-09-30
I 28		1914-10-01	–	1927-12-31
I 21		1928-01-01	–	1974-06-30
I 21/Fo 23		1974-07-01	–	1983-06-30
I 21/Fo 23		1991-07-01	–	2000-06-30
Ao Ång		2000-07-01	–	2001-06-30
Location		From		To
Sånga mo		1893-01-01	–	1899-??-??
Sollefteå läger		1899-??-??	–	1911-04-04
Sollefteå Garrison		1911-04-05	–	2001-06-30

Footnotes

The motto was adopted in 1936 in connection with the formation of the regiment's companion association. The motto is today also used by the 15th Home Guard Battalion.[1]
The march was adopted in 1901 and was established in 1953 by Army Order 33/1953. The march was used by Ångermanland Brigade (Ångermanlandsbrigaden) from 1994 to 2000 and by the Västernorrland Group (Västernorrlandsgruppen) from 2000 to 2004.[2]

References

Notes

Handbok: parad 6: traditionsvård 2017, p. 47
Sandberg 2007, p. 61
Larsson, Peter (2012-11-01). "Den militära verksamheten". www.solleftea.se (in Swedish). Sollefteå. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
Berg 2004, p. 378
Braunstein 2003, pp. 111-114
Holmberg 1993, p. 15
Holmberg 1993, p. 71
Braunstein 2004, p. 92
Braunstein 2006, pp. 26-27
Braunstein 2007, p. 91
Braunstein 2007, p. 111
Kjellander 2003, p. 328
Holmberg 1993, p. 47

Print

Berg, Ejnar (2004). Vyer från kastaler, kastell och kaserner: guide över Sveriges militära byggnader : illustrerad med vykort (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-75-3. SELIBR 9818451.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Braunstein, Christian (2003). Sveriges arméförband under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 5 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-4-5. SELIBR 8902928.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Braunstein, Christian (2004). Svenska försvarsmaktens fälttecken efter millennieskiftet [The flags and standards of the Swedish armed forces after the turn of the millennium] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 7 [dvs 8] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-7-X. SELIBR 9815350.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Braunstein, Christian (2006). Heraldiska vapen inom det svenska försvaret [Heraldry of the Swedish Armed Forces] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 9 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-9-6. SELIBR 10099224.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Braunstein, Christian (2007). Utmärkelsetecken på militära uniformer [Decorations on Swedish military uniforms] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 12 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 978-91-976220-2-8. SELIBR 10423295.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Holmberg, Björn (1993). Arméns regementen, skolor och staber: [en uppslagsbok] : en sammanställning (in Swedish). Arvidsjaur: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek (SMB). ISBN 91-972209-0-6. SELIBR 7796532.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Kjellander, Rune (2003). Sveriges regementschefer 1700-2000: chefsbiografier och förbandsöversikter (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-74-5. SELIBR 8981272.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Sandberg, Bo (2007). Försvarets marscher och signaler förr och nu: marscher antagna av svenska militära förband, skolor och staber samt igenkännings-, tjänstgörings- och exercissignaler (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Militärmusiksamfundet med Svenskt marscharkiv. ISBN 978-91-631-8699-8. SELIBR 10413065.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Handbok: parad 6: traditionsvård : H PARAD 6 2016 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. SELIBR 22459606.