Copyright © Hans Högman 2018-06-23
Uniforms of Other Branches of
the Army - 1800s
Introduction
Before the mid-1800s there were basically three
branches of the Army; infantry, cavalry and artillery.
During the second half of the 1800s several new
branches were established such as the Army
Service Corps and Army Engineers. These new
branches of the Army enacted their own individual
uniforms.
Uniforms of the Swedish
Army - 1800s (F)
Army Service Corps (Trängen)
1885 - 1900
The Army Service Corps was established in 1885
when the Svea Army Service Battalion was raised in
Marieberg, Stockholm. The battalion was divided in
1891 into two battalions; Svea and Göta Army Service
battalions. The Norrland Army Service Battalion was
established in 1893 and Wendes Army Service
Battalion in 1894. These battalions became
independent Corps in 1904.
Uniform m/1885
The Army Service Corps enacted their first uniform in
1885, m/1885. The dark blue tunic was double-
breasted with 8 buttons in each row and equipped
with shoulder straps. This tunic was similar to the
tunic m/1875 worn by the dragoon regiments.
Headgear was cap m/1865 and a spiked helmet. The
unit designation (numeral) was worn on the shoulder
straps.
Army Engineers and Fortification
Corps
(Ingenjörtrupperna and
Fortifikationskåren)
The Fortification Corps was established in 1635. In
1811 the Fortification Corps was merged with the in
1805 newly established Surveying Corps
(Fältmätningskåren) into a new corps called the
Sapper Corps (Sappörkåren).
The Army Engineers originates from the Sapper
Corps. A sapper, also called pioneer or combat
engineer, is a combatant or soldier who performs a
variety of military engineering duties such as
breaching fortifications, demolitions, bridge-
building, laying or clearing minefields, preparing
field defenses as well as building, and working on
road and airfield construction and repair.
The first sapper company was established in 1855 in
Stockholm. In 1864 the Sapper Corps consisted of
two companies and in 1867 the Pioneer Battalion
(Pontonjärbataljonen) was established and in 1892
Svea Engineer Battalion
The in 1855 raised sapper company wore uniform
m/1845. The single-breasted tunic was medium
blue. The trousers were long trousers and the
greatcoat was a surtout. Headgear was infantry
style helmet with the Fortification Corps front-plate.
Part of the also the cap kepi. In 1865 the helmet and
kepi were replaced by the then new cap m/1865.
In 1873 the kollett was introduced, kollett m/1873.
See below. In 1878 the Engineers adopted a new
double-breasted tunic, m/1878.
Uniform m/1888
In 1888 the Army Engineers enacted a new uniform,
m/1888. This was basically a variant of the infantry
uniform m/1886 model II worn by the guards’
regiments. However, since the Engineers adopted
the uniform in 1888 it is referred to as uniform
m/1888.
The tunic was medium blue, single-breasted with
yellow lining. Collar and cuffs were black velvet. The
flaps on the cuffs were equipped with three
horizontal buttonholes similar to the buttonholes
worn by the guards’ regiments.
In 1894 the helmet m/1894 was adopted.
Kollett m/1873
Kollett was a type of jacket shorter than the coat,
had a standing collar with very short tails or no tails
at all and equipped with shoulder straps. The kollett
was used during summers and drill exercises. It was
not equipped with any adornments. The kollett was
the service dress uniform.
The kollett m/1873 was single-breasted, medium
blue and equipped with shoulder straps and a high
standing collar cut on the bias. Rank insignias were
worn on the collar in the shape of stars. For
example, a Second Lieutenant wore one star,
Lieutenant two stars and Captain three stars.
Uniform m/1895
The uniform m/1885 was in 1895 replaced by uniform
m/1895. This uniform was also worn by the Mounted
Life Guards and the dragoon regiments. These
regiments uniform was medium blue while the model
of uniform m/1895 worn by the Army Service Corps
was dark blue with a light blue collar.
Colors, uniform m/1895:
•
Tunic and trousers: Dark blue. The tunic was
single-breasted with 8 brass buttons. Light blue
piping.
•
Collar: Light blue collar with a light blue piping on
the top edge on the collar.
•
Shoulder straps: Dark blue shoulder straps
equipped with regimental insignia and unit
designation in Arabic numerals in white
broadcloth. Light blue piping around the
shoulder straps.
•
Cuffs: The cuffs were equipped with a white
vertical buttonhole pointing upwards.
The image shows a
shoulder strap and part of
the collar of uniform
m/1895 worn by the Service
Corps. Dark blue tunic and
shoulder strap. The strap
has a light blue piping and
the numeral “1” which is the
designation numeral for T1.
The collar is light blue.
Army Service Corps,
uniform m/1895.
This soldier served
in the Svea Army
Service Corps, T1,
(See the digit “1” on
the shoulder straps).
The cuffs are
equipped with the
vertical pointed
buttonholes.
The photo is shown
with the consent of
Lars Brask.
Army Service Corps,
uniform m/1895.
These soldiers served in
the Göta Army Service
Corps, T2.
The photo is shown with
the consent of Christer
Olofsson, Trollhättan.
Soldiers wearing the Army Service Corps uniform
m/1895. They served in Skåne Army Service
Corps, T4, which can be seen by the numeral “4”
on their shoulder straps. The numeral “2” in the
caps is their company designation, i.e. Second
Company . Their trousers seem to be trouser
m/1910 which would mean that the photo was
taken after 1910.
The photo is from my own collection, 2013.
The two soldiers to the right are wearing the Army
Service Corps uniform m/1895 and they served in
the Göta Service Corps, T2, (numeral “2” on the
shoulder straps). The soldier to the extreme left is
wearing tunic m/1910 and trouser m/1895 which
would mean that the photo was taken after 1910.
The soldiers are wearing a white armlet with a red
cross on their left upper arms which tells us that
they are medical field soldiers, i.e. medically trained.
The soldiers served in a field ambulance company.
Their caps are cap m/1865-1899.
The photo is shown with the consent of Kjell
Lindkvist. The soldier to the extreme left is Kjell’s
maternal grandmothers father Oskar Lindkvist.
School Insignias/Training Insignias
(Skoltecken)
The special skills tabs were qualification tabs
denoting personnel that have been undergoing
special training to become specialists within their
field of expertise.
The school insignias were qualification tabs for
graduates of military schools/classes to to obtain
positions of command or rank, other ranks, for
example Corporal School.
The term used to refer to all ranks below officers is
"other ranks". It includes warrant officers, non-
commissioned officers ("NCOs") and ordinary
soldiers with the rank of private or regimental
equivalent.
The school insignias/tabs were worn on the left
upper sleeve and the schools tabs consisted of one,
two or three stripes. The school tabs were different
for different branches of the army.
Infantry/Cavalry
In 1870 the infantry introduced three stages (classes)
of education and the cavalry in in 1873 to obtain
positions of rank. The graduates received the marks;
Approved (godkänd) or With Praise Approved (Med
beröm godkänd). After the examination the
graduates wore one to three stripes on their upper
left sleeve depending on the course taken.
•
Stage I - Graduates of Corporal School
•
Stage II - Graduates of Non-commissioned
School
•
Stage III - Graduates of stage II that were able to
assimilate the skills and knowledge taught in the
class
Artillery
The artillery was early introducing school insignias.
The artillery school insignias were changed in 1872.
Since 1872 the artillery school insignias were worn
on the left upper sleeve. The rank of a Swedish
Artillery “1. Konstapel” corresponds to Corporal in
the Swedish infantry.
Exempel:
•
2. Konstapel (Artillery Vice Corporal) graduate -
one stripe
•
1. Konstapel (Artillery Corporal) - two stripes
•
Styckjunkare (Artillery Master Sergeant)
graduate- two stripes below a narrow gold
braid
Artilleryman graduated as
Corporal - two stripes.
Tunic m/1895 of the
Army Service Corps,
enlisted men.