Posted on 09/28/2017 11:41:46 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Even the Queen has been informed of Shenkin's death and flags are being flown at half mast at a Welsh barracks
The regimental mascot of 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh - who was well-known for appearing at Welsh rugby internationals - has died.
Lance Corporal Shenkin III - regimental mascot of 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh - died on Tuesday aged seven and a half years old.
Shenkin was well known for appearing at Welsh rugby internationals, where he would lead out the Wales team with handler Goat Major Sergeant Mark Jackson.
A letter was sent to Her Majesty The Queen officially informing her of Shenkin’s death, and asking permission for the Regiment to select a new goat.
Shenkin was a Kashmiri goat born and bred from the Royal Herd at the Great Orme in Llandudno .
Goats from the herd have been presented to the Regiment since Queen Victoria first presented the Royal Welch Fusiliers with its first official Royal goat more than a hundred years ago in 1844.
He was selected for duty at Maindy Barracks following the death of his predecessor, also called Shenkin and holding the rank of Lance Corporal, in July 2009.
To honour Shenkin's passing, Maindy Barracks flies their flags at half mast.
While leading rugby players, and officers and soldiers in Freedom Parades throughout Wales, Shenkin has been a symbol for The Royal Welsh and for Wales.
He will have a headstone commissioned that will be placed outside Regimental Headquarters.
His headstone in Maindy Barracks, Cardiff, will join those of his predecessors who have served The Royal Welsh and antecedent Regiments.
Sergeant Mark “Jacko” Jackson has been at Shenkin’s side for the past five and a half years.
He said: "He was a legend. He wasn’t just a Regimental goat, but part of my family as well.
"He loved a crowd and was a total poser."
Lieutenant Colonel Nigel Crewe-Read, commanding officer 3R Welsh, said: “Shenkin was the figurehead for the battalion and would lead us wherever we went. He was a symbol of the great traditions of The Royal Welsh."
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Chris Kilminster, Regimental Secretary of The Royal Welsh, said: "LCpl Shenkin was always very steady on parade and was immaculate at the presentation of new colours to the Regiment by Her Majesty The Queen in 2015 at, what was then named, the Millennium Stadium. He had a real rapport with the public, across all ages."
The process of finding Shenkin’s successor from the Royal Herd at the Great Orme will soon begin.
Meanwhile, Llywelyn, the Regimental Goat for 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh will assume Shenkin's duties, including that of leading the Wales team out for the autumn Internationals at the Principality Stadium.
The case for official mascot recognition is presented before the Army Honours and Distinction Committee, and by receiving official status the mascot attains a regimental number, assumes proper rank and with prospects of promotion.
That there’s one fine lookin’ critter.
This is why we won our independence from them.
I think they should posthumously promote it to Warrant Officer.
The goat is dead.
Long live the goat!
Well, really, Wales is another colony that never got their freedom.
Free Willy!
Free the Wales!
Is it a coincidence they had goats head soup later that day..?
Baldrick: No - but I've often thought I'd like to.
Blackadder: Well, don't. It's a ghastly place. Huge gangs of tough, sinewy men roam the valleys, terrifying people with their close-harmony singing. You need half a pint of phlegm in your throat just to pronounce the place name! Never ask for directions in Wales, Baldrick; you'll be washing spit out of your hair for a fortnight.
LOVE rugby! Fast, no commercials, hard play with no dangerous rigid padding. Army-Navy game was awesome! No taking a knee during the anthem.
Slackbladder! Haven’t seen that one in an age!
Fire up the grill!
Bet the goat never took a knee.
What a beautiful animal. As for the rest, wut?
And I thought we had government waste.
Sounds like the plot of a Monty Python skit....
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