Saturday 15 June 2024

Regimental mascots

 

Regimental mascots

                                            Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

A regimental mascot, also known as a ceremonial pet or military mascot differs from a military animal, in that it is not deployed for any purpose other than ceremonial. Since the 18th century, British army regiments have adopted mascots, to bring luck and strengthen morale among the troops.

Some mascots have official status, with a regimental number and rank, and can be promoted or demoted, according to their behaviour. For example, Lance Corporal Billy Windsor, the goat mascot of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh, was demoted to fusilier in 2006, charged with unacceptable behaviour and disobeying a direct order. He had marched out of line, in front of Queen Elizabeth II, and attempted to head-butt the drummers. He eventually regained his former rank and retired to Whipsnade Zoo three years later.

While he was the regimental mascot, he received two cigarettes a day to eat and a drink – maybe a pint! – of Guinness.

The Royal Welsh and their predecessors have maintained goats as mascots since the 1770s. The legend is that during the American War of Independence, at the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill, a wild goat wandered onto the battle field and led the Royal Welsh Fusiliers’ colour party from the field. From that time the Royal Welsh have always had a goat as their mascot. The current mascot is Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Welsh.


                                        Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

A more unusual mascot was a Bengal tiger, who was named Plassey after the famous battle of 1757.  He belonged to the 102nd Regiment of Foot (Royal Madras Fusiliers) and in 1870 he travelled with them and two leopards, to Dover, where he lived at the regimental base. He was not chained and wandered at will, but had a habit of frightening the local populace and so was given to London Zoo, where he died seven years later.

The cap badge of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, successors to the 102nd Foot, depicted a tiger, a symbol in Indian culture of grace and strength. The Royal Dublin Fusiliers were disbanded in 1922, following the establishment of the Irish Free State (Eire).

The Staffordshire Regiment has as its mascot a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, always named Watchman. The current holder is Lance Corporal Watchman VI. Their association started during the Egyptian War in 1882. When leaving Cairo by train, the South Staffordshire Regiment were accompanied by their bull terrier, Boxer. He was frightened when the train started and jumped onto the tracks. He was assumed to be dead, as he lay so still. A few days later, having arrived at their destination, the soldiers noticed a dog following them. Remarkably, it was Boxer, who had run 200 miles across the desert to rejoin his regiment.

                                    Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Other mascots include a Shetland pony, a Welsh mountain pony, an Irish wolfhound and a ram. The 2nd Battalion the Royal Yorkshire Regiment has two ferrets, Imphal and Quebec.    

                                                Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

In other countries, the mascots can be unusual. Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands, is a King Penguin and Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard. He lives at Edinburgh Zoo.

Meanwhile, in Australia, the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, has Quintus Rama as their mascot. He is a Sumatran tiger and accompanies them during military parades. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment has a wedge-tailed eagle, Courage, the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment has a dingo called Wooly, and the 1st Aviation Regiment has a peregrine falcon called Penny Alert.

24 comments:

  1. Major General Baron Sir Nils Olav III is a handsome and attentive King Penguin and Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard. I hope he doesn't twist his neck constantly looking up.

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    1. I don't think he's on parade very often!

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  2. What wonderful stories. You have brightened my morning.

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    1. Thank you. I hope you're feeling better today.

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  3. It always amuses me when I see the goats or dogs in "uniform" ! Upgraded or downgraded I think they really don't care, I would suggest to give them a big bone or some special grass for the goats. In fact it would by nice to replace the humans by animals ! Would be cute to see little guinea pigs walking by the King ! I always watch these big events, it is so romantic and colorful and reminds old times, it's like our Waterloo battle, when you see a Scot soldier in a kilt, shopping in the supermarket !

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    1. It's the history and the tradition that I appreciate.

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    2. I too ! It's just unique, I always watch Trooping the colors and all other official events too.

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  4. How do they control goats when on parade? Firmly, I expect.
    Our army has a Sumatran tiger with them when on parade? Well, I never. The other Australian mascots, I understand.

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    1. Lots of training and strong leads and arms.

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  5. The best of all is the lovely Irish wolfhound, showing his paces today!

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    1. We meet some Irish wolfhounds in the woods sometimes - wonderful, gentle dogs.

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  6. Wonderful stories! I suppose Lance Corporal Billy Windsor was disappointed that the zoo (presumably) didn't continue his customary cigarettes and Guinness. How funny!

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    1. I can't think the cigarettes would have done him much good!

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  7. Love the way Major General Sir Nils Olav III is inspecting the troops. Naughty Billy Windsor!

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  8. We saw the Irish wolfhound on parade today, Marlene, Poppypatchwork

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    1. I thought of you as were watching it. Hope you didn't get drenched in the downpour as the Royal party left Horse Guards.

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    2. We did, had plastic macs with us, but it was so brilliant, Marlene, Poppypatchwork

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  9. This was so entertaining. I can see a tiger as a military mascot. A penguin, not so much. Perhaps the most famous mascot in the United States is Uga, the bulldog which is the mascot of our University of Georgia. Not military unless you consider sports a form of war.

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    1. All mascots are to be treasured and honoured.

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  10. Amazing to read about these different mascots.

    Wasn't Trooping of the Colour wonderful to watch.
    Mind you shame about the downpour!

    All the best Jan

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    1. It was very colourful. The rain was torrential, though.

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  11. Thank you, Janice. I loved reading about all the regimental animal mascots. Some very unusual ones among them. I'm not sure about the tiger roaming freely though. A little too close for comfort but still a very handsome animal.

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    1. It would be a bit of a shock, coming face to face with one!

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