William Windsor (goat)
William Windsor I | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Billy |
Born | 2000 (23–24 years old) Whipsnade Zoo |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 2001–2009 |
Rank | Lance corporal |
Service number | 25232301 |
Unit | 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh |
Retirement | Whipsnade Zoo |
William "Billy" Windsor I is a
His young replacement is known as William Windsor II.
History
The tradition of having goats in the military originated in 1775,
The royal goat herd was originally obtained from
The herd thrived on
William Windsor I
Billy, a
Billy—
Temporary demotion
On 16 June 2006,[13] a parade was held to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday, at the Episkopi base near Limassol, Cyprus on the Mediterranean island's south coast.[10] Invited dignitaries included the ambassadors of Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden and the Argentine commander of United Nations' forces on Cyprus.[16]
The deployment to Cyprus with the 1st Battalion was Billy's first overseas posting, and despite being ordered to keep in line, he refused to obey.[13] He failed to keep in step[16]and tried to headbutt a drummer.[17] The goat major, Lance Corporal Dai Davies, 22, from Neath, South Wales, was unable to keep him under control.[16]
Billy was charged with "unacceptable behaviour",
A Canadian animal rights group protested to the British Army, stating that he was merely "acting the goat", and should be reinstated.[10] Three months later, on 20 September at the same parade ground,[10] Billy regained his rank during the Alma Day parade which celebrates the Royal Welsh victory in the Crimean War.[10] Captain Simon Clarke said, "Billy performed exceptionally well, he has had all summer to reflect on his behaviour at the Queen's birthday and clearly earned the rank he deserves".[10]
Billy received his promotion from the colonel of the Royal Welsh Regiment, Brigadier Roderick Porter.[10] As a result of regaining his rank, he also regained his membership of the corporals' mess.[10]
Billy is not the first goat in the army to have troubles. At one time a royal goat was "prostituted" by being offered for stud services by the regiment's serving goat major to a
Retirement
On 20 May 2009, following 8 years of distinguished service,[14] Billy retired due to his age.[1] Billy was taken to Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire,[1] where keepers say he had an easy life at the Children's Farm.[21]
William Windsor II
In order to replace Billy, thirty members of 1st Battalion set off to Great Orme in Llandudno on 15 June 2009 at 03:00, hoping to catch the feral goats in a docile state.[22][23] A team led by Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Lock (Commanding Officer) included the goat major and several veterinarians.[24] Army spokesman Gavin O’Connor said, "We are looking for a goat which is calm under pressure and a team player."[24] During the selection of a replacement goat, the battalion helped to start an alternative vaccine method of birth control among the herd, since hormone implants that were previously employed to control numbers are no longer available.[25]
With some difficulty, a five-month-old was chosen, and assigned army number 25142301—which represents regiment number 2514, 23rd Regiment of Foot (the original name of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers), and 01 denoting the 1st Battalion.[23] The new goat will also be called William Windsor, beginning as a fusilier while being trained for military life.[22] He will receive a ration of two cigarettes per day, which he eats, but will not be permitted Guinness until he is older.[22]
See also
- Military animal
- Military mascot
- Nils Olav, mascot penguin
- Bill the Goat, United States Naval Academy mascot
- Wojtek (bear)
- Sergeant Bill
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Retiring army goat's new zoo home", BBC News, 20 May 2009, archived from the original on 27 October 2009, retrieved 22 May 2009
- ^ a b Item: GTJ18644, Royal Welsh Fusiliers Regimental Museum Archived 2 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Gwynedd. Copy at Gathering the Jewels, website for Welsh heritage and culture Archived 2 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "British regiment bids goodbye to goat mascot", NBC News, Associated Press, 20 May 2009, archived from the original on 25 September 2022, retrieved 21 May 2009
- ^ "1st Battalion Royal Welsh regimental goat William Windsor retires at Dale Barracks, Chester", Chester Chronicle, 21 May 2009, archived from the original on 19 July 2011, retrieved 23 May 2009
- ^ "Famous names in the First World War", DocumentsOnline, The National Archives, archived from the original on 5 April 2012, retrieved 3 September 2009
- ISBN 0-19-504258-1, archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2022, retrieved 23 May 2009
- ^ ISBN 0-393-30444-2, archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2022, retrieved 23 May 2009
- ^ a b Pill option to control goat population, BBC News (Wales), 26 April 2001, archived from the original on 2 December 2012, retrieved 30 March 2010
- ^ a b c d Outbreak prevents Orme goat move, BBC News, Wales, North West Wales, 17 September 2007, archived from the original on 5 December 2013, retrieved 1 April 2010
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Demoted British army goat redeemed after royal blunder", The Australian, AFP, 27 September 2006, retrieved 21 May 2009
- ^ Stringer, David (25 June 2006), "British Army Demotes Mascot Goat, Billy", The Washington Post, archived from the original on 31 January 2017, retrieved 23 May 2009
- ^ Right royal return for Billy the goat!, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, archived from the original on 22 February 2012, retrieved 1 April 2010
- ^ CBBC, 25 June 2006, archivedfrom the original on 5 June 2009, retrieved 21 May 2009
- ^ a b Royal Welsh regimental goat retires, The British Army News, archived from the original on 7 March 2009, retrieved 21 May 2009
- ^ Taffy IV, the Regimental Goat, United Kingdom National Archives, archived from the original on 5 April 2012, retrieved 23 May 2009
- ^ a b c d e "Gruff justice as Billy is demoted", BBC News, 24 June 2006, archived from the original on 15 January 2009, retrieved 21 May 2009
- ^ "Billy butts back into officer class", Western Mail (Wales), HighBeam Research, 28 September 2006, archived from the original on 25 October 2012, retrieved 21 May 2009
- The Metro, 28 September 2006, archivedfrom the original on 30 September 2012, retrieved 15 March 2010
- ISBN 1-57181-022-6
- ^ from the original on 25 September 2022, retrieved 23 May 2009
- ^ William Windsor retires, Hemel Today, 28 May 2009, archived from the original on 31 May 2009, retrieved 29 May 2009
- ^ a b c Soldiers choose regimental goat, BBC News (Wales, North West), 15 June 2009, archived from the original on 19 June 2009, retrieved 30 March 2010
- ^ a b David Powell (18 June 2009), "Royal Welsh tackle Great Orme to find regimental goat", North Wales Weekly News, archived from the original on 20 July 2011, retrieved 30 March 2010
- ^ a b No kidding about when soldiers select new goat, WalesOnline, 15 June 2009, archived from the original on 10 October 2012, retrieved 30 March 2010
- ^ Contraceptives to curb goat herd, BBC News (Wales, North West), 12 May 2009, archived from the original on 3 December 2013, retrieved 30 March 2010
External links
- Video of still image of the retirement – Wales Online
- Video of William, marching – YouTube
- Contraceptives to curb goat herd – BBC News video
- Soldiers choose regimental goat – BBC News video
- Whipsnade Zoo