The Regimental Goat Mascot

Shenkin (the Welsh pronunciation of 'Jenkins') is a goat from the Royal Herd at Windsor, and is the official mascot of the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh, and is looked after by Goat Major Sgt. David Joseph BEM.

Regiments of the British Army have always been prone to adopt members of the animal world as their mascots: bears, apes, dogs, geese, ponies and rams are just a few that have graced ceremonial parades. Three Regiments used to parade a goat - The Royal Welch Fusiliers, the Royal Regiment of Wales, and the Royal Welsh Regiment. However on 1st May 2006 these three Regiments merged to form ' The Royal Welsh', of which Shenkin is the mascot of the 3rd Battalion.

Wild goats were at one time quite common in Wales, particularly in the mid and northern counties of the Principality. The goat, particularly the billy is hardy, stubborn, and when confronted, aggressive, and can live off the land in the most inhospitable climates - character traits that were, and still are, desirable in a soldier.

The origins of the Regimental Goat reach back to the Crimean War of 1854/56 where one of the Irish soldiers acquired a small goat kid with which he intended to supplement his meagre ration. He was on sentry duty at the time and tucked the live kid under his greatcoat.

During the night, he fell asleep, to be suddenly awakened by the agitated bleating of the animal. As he came to, he espied a Russian patrol advancing and was able to warn the forward picket who drove off the enemy.

The goat mascot was present during a review at Aldershot in 1856 by Her Majesty, Queen Victoria of regiments that had returned from the Crimea. On that occasion the Queen promised the 41st (The Welch Regiment) that upon his death, the goat would be replaced by one from the Royal Herd in Great Windsor Park. That custom has since perpetuated.

Within the 1st Battalion of the Regiment, the Goat was officially listed as Private Gwylim Jenkins. The soldier appointed as his keeper and trainer is known as the Goat Major.

The Goat often accompanied the Battalions on active service and were, when applicable awarded the appropriate service or campaign medals.

The last Goat of the Welsh Regiment to go on active service was that of the 1 Welch which accompanied the battalion to Korea in 1951.