Per Carleson

{{Short description|Swedish fencer (1917–2004)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = | name = Per Carleson | honorific_suffix = | image = Per Hjalmar Ludvig Carleson.jpg | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Per Hjalmar Ludvig Carleson | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|7|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden | death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|6|8|1917|7|11|df=yes}} | death_place = Gothenburg, Sweden | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates =  | allegiance = Sweden | branch = Coastal Artillery (Swedish Navy) | service_years = 1940–1977 | rank = Senior Colonel | service_number =  | unit = | commands = {{bulleted list|Coastal Ranger School|Fo 32/31|Gothenburg Coastal Artillery Defence}} | battles = | battles_label = | awards = | memorials = | spouse =  | relations = | other_work = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website =  | module = }}

Senior Colonel '''Per Hjalmar Ludvig Carleson''' (11 July 1917 – 8 June 2004) was a Swedish officer and épée fencer. Carleson was one of the founders of the Swedish Coastal Rangers.

==Early life== Carleson was born on 11 July 1917 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of captain Waldemar Carleson and his wife Gunnila (née Unge).<ref name="Norra Latin (1959)">{{cite book |url=https://portrattarkiv.se/details/sj9PGLAlnmUAAAAAABzX3g |title=Norra latin 1900-1955: högre allmänna läroverket för gossar å Norrmalm |series=Sveriges studenter, 99-0356079-6; 8 |year=1959 |publisher=Sveriges studenters förlag |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|784539}}}}</ref> He grew up in Stockholm with four brothers. Early attention was paid to his great interest and aptitude for swimming. During high school years at Högre latinläroverket å Norrmalm, he became Swedish champion and record holder in the 100 m backstroke.<ref name="Bergstrand (2004), pp. 259-260"/> He attended Norra Latin in Stockholm where he was chairman of the sports association (''Norra Latins Idrottsförening'', NLIF) between 1935 and 1936.<ref name="Norra Latin (1959)"/> Carleson passed ''studentexamen'' at Norra Latin in 1937,<ref name="Kjellander (2007), p. 55"/> after which he studied at Stockholm University College. He was adopted as a reserve cadet in the Swedish Coastal Artillery in 1939, and studied the same year at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy, after which he was appointed second lieutenant in the Swedish Coastal Artillery's reserve in 1940.<ref name="Hafström (1942), pp. 558">{{cite book |editor-last=Hafström |editor-first=Georg |title=Kungl. Sjökrigsskolan 75 år. D. 2, 1867-1942 |year=1942 |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|861054}} |page=558}}</ref>

==Career==

===Military career=== Carleson took the officer course at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy from 1940 to 1941, after which he graduated as an officer in 1941 and the same year was commissioned as an officer and appointed second lieutenant<ref name="Hafström (1942), pp. 558"/> and was assigned to Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 1)<ref name="Kjellander (2007), p. 55"/> where he immediately started serving in a unit in the outermost coastline.<ref name="Bergstrand (2004), pp. 259-260"/> Carleson was promoted to lieutenant in 1942.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/64200/gupea_2077_64200_1.pdf |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1943 |year=1943 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=372}}</ref> Later he became commander of a training company in Vaxholm. After graduation from the Swedish Army Physical Training School (''Arméns gymnastik- och idrottsskola''), he was placed as a cadet and sports officer at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy.<ref name="Bergstrand (2004), pp. 259-260"/> Carleson attended the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1944 to 1946,<ref name="Kjellander (2007), p. 55">{{cite book |last=Kjellander |first=Rune |title=Svenska marinens högre chefer 1700-2005: chefsbiografier och befattningsöversikter samt Kungl Örlogsmannasällskapets ämbetsmän och ledamöter 1771-2005 |year=2007 |publisher=Probus |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=978-91-87184-83-3 |id={{LIBRIS|10452099}} |page=55}}</ref> and was then promoted to captain in 1947<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/63629/gupea_2077_63629_1.pdf |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1948 |year=1948 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=400}}</ref> and then the staff and artillery course at the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1947 to 1949.<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 202">{{cite book |editor-last=Salander Mortensen |editor-first=Jill |year=1996 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1997 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1997 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |isbn=91-1-960852-7 |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|3681533}} |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1997/0202.html |page=202}}</ref>

Carleson served in the Naval Staff from 1949 to 1953, in the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment from 1953 to 1954, in the Military Office of the Minister of Defence from 1954 to 1956 and again in the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment from 1956 to 1957.<ref name="Davidsson (1968), p. 557">{{cite book |editor1-last=Davidsson |editor1-first=Åke |date=1968 |title=Vem är vem?. 5, Norrland : supplement, register |trans-title=Who's Who?. 5, Norrland : supplements, directory |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |publisher=Vem är vem |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|53513}} |url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/norr68/0581.html |page=557}}</ref> He was involved in studies and planning for the creation of mobile ground combat forces in an archipelago environment and was given the opportunity to follow the education at a French amphibious school in Algeria and then undergo combat diver training in the Swedish Navy. As a result of an amphibious investigation, appointed by Sweden's Supreme Commander and boat investigations in the Naval Staff, the Chief of the Navy was commissioned by the Supreme Commander to carry out experimental training of mobile ground combat units in the archipelago. It was natural that the Coastal Artillery Inspector appointed the then captain Carleson to prepare and conduct this activity in 1956. He thus became the founder and first head of the Coastal Ranger School (1956–1957).<ref name="Bergstrand (2004), pp. 259-260">{{cite journal |url=https://www.koms.se/content/uploads/2013/06/Tis-nr-3-2004.pdf |journal=Tidskrift i sjöväsendet |title=Minnesteckningar för år 2004 |first=Per-Erik |last=Bergstrand |year=2004 |number=3 |location=Carlskrona |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|8258455}} |pages=259–260}}</ref> Carleson's ideal instructor was, with his own words "skilful in hand-to-hand combat, skilled navigator of the archipelago, good at orienteering, preferably a combat diver, knowledgeable signaller and artillery observer, and also strong, durable and provided with good judgment".<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://militarhistoria.se/artiklar/moderna-konflikter/kustjagarna-forsvarets-spjutspets |journal=Militär Historia |title=Kustjägarna – försvarets spjutspets |first1=Lars |last1=Gyllenhaal |first2=Lennart |last2=Westberg |number=5 |issn=2000-3471 |date=2017 |access-date=27 March 2019 |language=sv |page=33}}</ref>

Carleson was promoted to major in 1957 and served in the Defence Staff from 1957 to 1962. In 1962 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed chief of staff of the Norrland Coastal Artillery Defence (''Norrlands kustartilleriförsvar'', NK).<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 202"/> In 1964, Carleson was promoted to colonel and appointed chief of Section 2 in the Naval Staff.<ref name="Davidsson (1968), p. 557"/> Carleson was promoted to senior colonel in 1969 and was appointed commanding officer of the Gothenburg and Bohus Defence District as well as Halland Defence District (Fo 31/32) as well as commander of Gothenburg Coastal Artillery Defence (GbK). He held this position until 1977.<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 202"/>

===Sports career=== {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = Per Carleson | image = Per Carleson.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date|1917|7|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden | death_date = {{death date and age|2004|6|8|1917|7|11|df=yes}} | death_place = Gothenburg, Sweden | height = | weight = | website = | country = | sport = Fencing | event = Épée | collegeteam = | club = KA1 IF, Vaxholm <br> FFF, Stockholm | team = | turnedpro = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{SWE}} }} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalBronze|1948 London|Épée, team}} {{MedalSilver|1952 Helsinki|Épée, team}} {{MedalWorldChampionships}} {{MedalSilver|1947 Lisbon|Épée, team}} {{MedalSilver|1949 Cairo|Épée, team}} {{MedalBronze|1949 Cairo|Épée, ind.}} {{MedalBronze|1950 Monte Carlo|Épée, team}} {{MedalBronze|1951 Stockholm|Épée, team}} {{MedalSilver|1954 Luxembourg|Épée, team}} | show-medals = no }} Carleson competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics and won two team medals, in 1948 and 1952. He was a Swedish Olympic flag bearer at the 1948 and 1956 Games.<ref name="databaseolympics">{{cite web |url=http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CARLEPER01 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105121859/http://databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CARLEPER01 |website=www.databaseolympics.com |title=Olympics Statistics: Per Carleson |url-status=dead |archivedate=5 January 2010 }}</ref><ref name="sports-reference">{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/per-carleson-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417065923/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/per-carleson-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |website=www.sports-reference.com |title=Per Carleson Olympic Results |access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/SWE/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417041224/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/SWE/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |website=www.sports-reference.com |title=Sweden |access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref>

Carleson started as a backstroke swimmer, and in the late 1930s held a national record and was a national champion over 100 m. Besides his Olympic achievements, he won three silver and three bronze medals at the world championships between 1947 and 1954.<ref name=sok>{{cite web |url=http://sok.se/idrottare/idrottare/p/per-carleson.html |publisher=Swedish Olympic Committee |title=Per Carleson |access-date=27 March 2019 |language=sv}}</ref>

==Later life== He became president of Majorna's Rotary club in Gothenburg and governor of the district and Swedish representative in the international law council. For his efforts, he received the Paul P. Harris Fellow recognition and became honorary member of his own Rotary club. During his last year of life, he received an award that greatly pleased him. The voluntary education organization ''Förbundet Kustjägarna'' ("Coastal Ranger Association"), which was formed in 2003, handed over its newly established gold medal with number 1 to Carleson.<ref name="Bergstrand (2004), pp. 259-260"/>

==Personal life== In 1952, he married Karin Stenbeck (born 1906), the daughter of Magnus Ekstedt and Anna (née Hörman).<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 202"/>

==Death== Carleson died on 8 June 2004 in Gothenburg. He was interred on 20 July 2004 at the Western Cemetery in Gothenburg.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskagravar.se/search?ShowFilters=False&Query=Per+Hjalmar+Ludvig+Carlesson&ParishId=&GraveNumber=&BirthDate=&DeathDate=&BurialDate=&OrderByDesc=False&OrderBy= |website=www.svenskagravar.se |title=Carleson, Per Hjalmar Ludvig |access-date=17 November 2021 |language=sv}}</ref>

==Dates of rank== *1940 – Second lieutenant *1942 – Lieutenant *1947 – Captain *1957 – Major *1962 – Lieutenant colonel *1964 – Colonel *1969 – Senior colonel

==Awards and decorations== * 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Sword (5 June 1971)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/E0000849_00022 |publisher=Royal Court of Sweden |work=Kungl. Maj:ts Ordens arkiv |title=Matriklar (D 1) |trans-title=Directory (D 1) |volume=14 |page=30 |date=1970–1979 |access-date=18 December 2024 |language=sv |via=National Archives of Sweden |url-access=registration}}</ref> * 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1968)<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/65665/1/gupea_2077_65665_1.pdf |title=Sveriges statskalender. 1969 |editor-first=Bengt |editor-last=Sköldenberg |year=1969 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|3682754}} |page=99}}</ref> * 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight 1st Class of the Order of the Sword (1959)<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/64601/gupea_2077_64601_1.pdf |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1960 |year=1960 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=18}}</ref> *50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Coastal Ranger Association Medal of Merit in gold (''Förbundet Kustjägarnas förtjänstmedalj i guld'') (2003)<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/4ff4aea3e4b0b15e996ebda6/t/512b9930e4b01fa67490dc25/1361811760233/KJT-57.pdf |journal=Kustjägaren: Tidskrift för Sällskapet Kustjägarveteraner |title=Förtjänsttecken, medalj och hedersutmärkelse |editor-first=Christer |editor-last=Carlsson |date=November 2006 |publisher=Sällskapet Kustjägarveteraner (KJV) |number=3 |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|4112111}} |page=27}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Sweden}} Swedish Fencing Federation's Medal of Merit and Elite Badge<ref name="Davidsson (1968), p. 557"/>

==Honours== *Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1966)<ref name="Bergstrand (2004), pp. 259-260"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{sports links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carleson, Per}} Category:1917 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Swedish colonels Category:Swedish Coastal Artillery officers Category:Military personnel from Stockholm Category:Fencers from Stockholm Category:Swedish male épée fencers Category:Olympic fencers for Sweden Category:Fencers at the 1948 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 1952 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 1956 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic silver medalists for Sweden Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Sweden Category:Olympic medalists in fencing Category:Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences Category:Commanders First Class of the Order of the Sword Category:Föreningen för Fäktkonstens Främjande fencers Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen Category:World Fencing Championships medalists

Per Carleson

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