Småland Grenadier Corps

Småland Grenadier Corps (Swedish: Smålands grenadjärkår), designated No. 7, was an infantry unit of the Swedish Army that was active in various forms from 1812 to 1901. The unit was based in Ränneslätt, about 2 km west of Eksjö.[2][3][4]

Småland Grenadier Corps
Smålands grenadjärkår
Active	1812–1901
Country	Sweden
Allegiance	Swedish Armed Forces
Branch	Swedish Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Corps
Part of	2nd Military District (1833–1893) 2nd Army Division (1893–1901)
Garrison/HQ	Ränneslätt
Colors	Red and yellow
March	"Finska rytteriets marsch" (unknown)[note 1]
Insignia
Colour m/1844

History

Småland Grenadier Corps has its origins in the Småland Dragoon Regiment, which on 22 April 1812 was split into an infantry and a cavalry part. In 1816, all Swedish regiments received a designation, where Småland Grenadier Corps was awarded No. 7. The unit adopted the name Småland Dragoon Regiment's Infantry Battalion, and changed its namn in 1824 to Småland Grenadier Battalion. On 27 October 1888, the name Småland Grenadier Corps was adopted.[2]

According to the 1901 Defense Reform, the corps was disbanded as an independent unit on 31 December 1901. Instead it came together with Blekinge Battalion to form Karlskrona Grenadier Regiment on 1 January 1902.[3]

Units

Uniforms of the Småland Grenadier Battalion (1866).

Companies

The unit was allotted in western Småland, but trained at Ränneslätt at Eksjö. The unit's four companies constituted the four squadrons of 125 rusthåll (literally "arm household"[note 2]) each, which in 1812 were separated from the Småland Dragoon Regiment.[5][6]

Name	Approximate subdivision area
1. Life company	Western Hundred (In the first years named Vrigstad Company.)
2. Eastern Hundred Company	Southern part of Eastern Hundred and some adjoining socken's
3. Sunnerbo Hundred Company	West half of Kronoberg County and the southernmost part of Östbo Hundred
4. Jönköping Company	West half of Jönköping County

Barracks and training areas

Småland Grenadier Corps trained at Ränneslätt which is considered to be the Swedish military exercise site that has been in use for the longest time, from 1686 onwards.[2]

Names, designations and locations

Name	Translation	From		To
Kungl. Smålands dragonregementes infanteribataljon	Royal Småland Dragoon Regiment's Infantry Battalion	1812-04-22	–	1824-??-??
Kungl. Smålands grenadjärbataljon	Royal Småland Grenadier Battalion	1824-??-??	–	1888-10-26
Kungl. Smålands grenadjärkår	Royal Småland Grenadier Corps	1888-10-27	–	1901-12-31
Designation		From		To
No. 7		1816-10-14	–	1901-12-31
Location		From		To
Kvarnarps gård		18??-??-??	–	1834-??-??
Ränneslätt		1834-??-??	–	1901-12-31

Footnotes

1. The march was adopted circa 1895. It was also used by Småland Hussar Regiment from 1890 to 1927, and by the Norrbotten Regiment from 1916.[1]
2. A bigger farm or estate (practically a peasant manor) that could support a horseman with his horse and equipment in exchange for tax exemption.

References

Notes

1. Sandberg 2007, p. 10
2. Braunstein 2003, pp. 45–46
3. Holmberg 1993, p. 9
4. Kjellander 2003, p. 276
5. Berg 1975, p. 325
6. The numbering according to "Smålands Kavalleri-regemente (tidigare Smålands Ryttare)". www.genealogi.se (in Swedish). Kronobergs genealogiska förening. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2011-05-17.

Print

• Berg, Lars Otto, ed. (1975). Kungl. Smålands husarregementes historia (in Swedish). Eksjö: Föreningen Smålandshusarers redaktionskommitté. SELIBR 258818.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)
• 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)

Further reading

• Bondeson, Lennart (1981–1982). Smålands Grenadier Corps 1812-1901: Biografiska anteckningar rörande officerskåren (in Swedish). [s.l.] SELIBR 3196274.