army goats

Defence minister Mark Lancaster disclosed that there are nine “publicly funded” animal mascots in the Army, of which four have been given the rank of officer after an updated audit

Official British Army mascots are entitled to the services of the Veterinary corps, as well as quartering and food at public expense.

The four “officers” all have lance corporal rank, and are entitled to be saluted by more junior officers and other servicemen with lesser ranks.

They include two Shetland ponies called Pegasus V and Cruachan IV which serve with the Parachute regiment and the Royal Regiment of Scotland respectively; and  Derby XXX, a Swaledale ram, and Shenkin III, a Kashmiri goat, which serve with the Mercian regiment and the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh. A Kashmiri goat called Llewlyn has the rank of Fusilier which serves the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh. The Fusiliers also have a British Otterhound as their stand-in Regimental Mascot because its normal mascot – an Indian black buck – is an endangered species.