LONDON, England (AP) -- A British army regiment's ceremonial pet
goat was demoted in disgrace after it marched out of line before a
host of international dignitaries during a parade to mark Queen's
Elizabeth II's birthday, a military spokesman said Saturday.
The military mascot, a 6-year-old male goat called Billy, was
downgraded from the rank of lance corporal to fusilier -- the same
status as a private -- after army chiefs ruled his poor display had
ruined the ceremony June 16 at a British army base in Episkopi,
western Cyprus.
Lance Cpl. Dai Davies, 22, the goat's handler, was unable to keep
control during the march earlier this month, as the mascot darted
from side to side, throwing soldiers off their stride, spokesman
Captain Crispian Coates said by telephone from Episkopi -- one of
two British bases on the island.
"The goat, which has been the regiment's mascot since 2001, was
supposed to be leading the march, but would not stay in line," said
Coates. "He was reported for subordination and after consideration,
the commanding officer decided he had no option but to demote
Billy."
Since his demotion, soldiers of a lower rank are no longer expected
to salute Billy as a sign of respect, Coates said.
Captain William Rose, a soldier present at the parade, said the
goat "was trying to headbutt the waist and nether regions of the
drummers."
The regiment, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh, has traveled with
a pet goat since soldiers adopted one of the animals during the
Crimean War, awarding it ceremonial status as a lance
corporal.
A total of 11 ceremonial pets -- including a ferret, an Indian
black buck and a ram -- are kept by the British Army, but regiments
do not take the mascots on tours to combat zones. British
legislators were told last month that keeping the pets costs
£30,000 ($55,000; 44,000) per year.
The Welsh regiment was presented with a goat from the Royal herd in
1746, and Billy is a descendant from the same bloodline, said a
spokeswoman for Britain's Ministry of Defense, on customary
condition of anonymity in line with policy.
"He is not a grazing goat and has food flown in from Wales. Billy
also has an allowance of two cigarettes a day -- both of which he
eats," said the spokeswoman.
Ambassadors from Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, a United Nations
special representative and the head of U.N. forces in Cyprus all
attended the march, Coates added.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/06/24/goat.demoted.ap/index.html
