- Source: Schleswig Regiment of Foot
The Schleswig Regiment of Foot (Danish: Slesvigske Fodregiment) is a Royal Danish Army infantry regiment. On 1 January 2001, the regiment was merged with the Queen's Life Regiment to form the Prince's Life Regiment. In 2018, it was announced that the regiment would be reestablished on 1 January 2019 as a light infantry battalion.
History
The Schleswig Regiment of Foot traces its history back to 1778 when it was raised from personnel from existing Regiments. Until 1842 it was garrisoned in Schleswig, until 1854 in Fredericia, until 1923 in Copenhagen and thereafter in Haderslev. From 1960's to 1997 the regiment only had infantry battalions, in 1997 it was upgraded with one mechanised infantry battalion.
The Regiment participated in the Napoleonic Wars (first as part of the Danish mobile auxiliary force, commanded by Prince Frederik of Hesse and under supreme command of Marechal L.N. Davout, and then as part of the Allied Forces against Napoleon under supreme command of Wellington), First Schleswig War (1848–1850) and Second Schleswig War (1864). The regimental flag has the battle honours Boden 1813 and Isted 1850. The fighting at Boden occurred near Oldesloe in Holstein in early December, less than a week before the 1813 Battle of Bornhöved. Since 26 March 1949 the flag carried the name Slesvigske Fodregiment.
On 1 November 1991 the Funen Life Regiment and the King's Jutlandic Regiment of Foot were merged into the regiment. In 2000 the regiment, with all battalions, was merged into the Prince's Life Regiment.
In 2019, the regiment was revived along with the Danish Artillery Regiment. When the regiment was reestablished it consisted of
one battalion of the line (13th(XIII/SLFR)) and one reserve battalion (22nd(XXII/SLFR)). Both were reactivated with historical numbers. If the regiment is expanded the battalion numbers will most likly be: 18th(XVIII/SLFR) and 3rd(III/SLFR)
Organisation
The regiment itself has one active battalion, one reserve battalion and a Musical Corps:
Schleswig Regiment of Foot, in Haderslev
XIII Light Infantry Battalion, Schleswig Regiment of Foot (XIII/SLFR Lette Infanteribataljon), in Haderslev
Staff Company
1st Light Infantry Company
2nd Light Infantry Company
3rd Light Infantry Company
4th Training Company
XXII Reserve Battalion, Schleswig Regiment of Foot (XXII/SLFR Reservebataljon), in Haderslev
Schleswig Music Corps (Slesvigske Musikkorps - SMuK), in Haderslev
Disbanded units
1st battalion (I/SLFR), Raised 1961, disbanded 2000. Motorized Infantry Battalion (from 1997 to 2000 Mechanized Infantry).
2nd battalion (II/SLFR), Raised 1961, disbanded 2000. Infantry Battalion.
3rd battalion (III/SLFR), Raised 1961, disbanded 2000. Infantry Battalion.(the number "3rd battalion" is used by the soldiers-association of the regiment)
4th battalion (IV/SLFR), amalgamated with Funen Life Regiment in 1991, disbanded 2000. Motorized Infantry Battalion.
3rd Brigade Staff Company/3rd Jutland Brigade. Raised 1961, disbanded 2000.
Names of the regiment
Standards
Historical standards of the regiment
References
Further reading
Lærebog for Hærens Menige, Hærkommandoen, marts 1960
"Slesvigske Fodregiment - i krig og fred", Niels Friis 1953