Army’s new regimental goat evades capture

A WILD goat gave Army officers the slip last night after an eight-hour chase to capture a new mascot for the Royal Welsh battalion.

Officers were forced to call off their attempt to capture a goat from the Royal herd on the Great Orme in Conwy county. They were trying to catch a successor to Shenkin III, who died in September last year.

An Army team, accompanied by an RSPCA vet, was sent to select and capture a new Shenkin, to be taken to Maindy Barracks, Cardiff, where it will be tamed. However, after pursuing their chosen Kashmiri goat across difficult terrain, they were forced to end the chase when darkness fell.

Sgt Mark Jackson, the regiment’s goat major, said: “He’s a cheeky looking chap. He’s got a lovely quiff on top of his horns. He’s the one we want.”

Once Shenkin IV is caught, Sgt Jackson will be tasked with training him to become accustomed to the battalion. Shenkin IV will hold the rank of fusilier and it is hoped its first public appearance will be at the National Armed Forces Day in Llandudno on June 30.

The Royal Welsh and its predecessor units have adopted goats as mascots since the 1770s. The tradition stems from the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American War of Independence when a wild goat is said to have strayed into the battle and led the Royal Welsh Fusiliers’ colour party from the field.