Walk past Maindy Barracks opposite the Heath pub in Cardiff and there is a good chance you’ll spot a goat leisurely grazing on the grass
MEET Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, the military goat that has such a strong bond with his handler that he often goes home with him.
The pair are rarely apart, and Sergeant Mark Jackson – the man who looks after every aspect of the military mascot’s life – has even welcomed him in as part of the family.
The bearded creature, who boasts ferocious-looking curly horns, is allowed to relax and make himself at home in the living room and has free rein of the back garden.
“I’ve had him since he was ten months old and have developed a very close bond with him, so I don’t think anyone else would be able to take him on,” said Sergeant Jackson.
“The plan is to retire together in a few years time, and he’ll come live at home with me.”
Shenkin IV comes from a long line of mascots of the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh, continuing a tradition that has been a key part of the unit since 1884.
When his predecessor, Shenkin III, passed away, a letter was sent to Buckingham Palace seeking permission from Her Majesty the Queen for a new recruit to take his place.
It was then up to Sgt Jackson, known as the Goat Major, and the rest of his unit to travel to the Great Orme in Llandudno, and seek out the royal herd of Kashmiri goats in search of his replacement.
“Shenkin IV has tight, distinctive curls around his horns, so when we found the herd, he stood out to me straight away,” said Sgt Jackson.
“I had a photographer with me, and when he heard the noise of the camera, he looked straight at it and didn’t run away; he was transfixed by it. I knew straight away this would be our new mascot, and he’s been a poser ever since.”
After four weeks of evading capture, 10-month-old Shenkin IV was brought to Maindy Barracks in Cathays, where he was assigned a regimental number, the rank of Fusilier, and a salary of £1,400 a year to cover his upkeep and veterinary bills.
He then underwent six months of training to get accustomed to his new role as the regiment’s mascot, making his public debut at the National Armed Forces Day in Llandudno in June 2018.
Since then, he has taken part in leading Remembrance Day parades and other ceremonial occasions, participated in royal visits, and even escorts the match ball onto the field during the Six Nations.
“He loves the attention when he’s out. If someone is there with a camera, and someone brings out a bigger camera, he’ll turn to look at that one instead.
“People love him. He’s met Prince Harry, King Charles, Queen Camilla, even Carol Vorderman – the list goes on and on.
“He is the main focal point of the regiment, and the most photographed out of any of us. Apart from being a serving soldier, he is a part of a tradition that dates back centuries, and I’m proud to keep that going.”
After his fourth royal engagement, Shenkin IV was eligible for promotion to Lance Corporal and earned the right to wear the King’s Coronation Medal.
With this new rank, however, comes added responsibility. In 2006, one of his predecessors Lance Corporal William ‘Billy’ Windsor was demoted to Fusilier after stepping out of line and attempting to headbutt a battalion drummer during a parade in front of Queen Elizabeth II.
Following a disciplinary hearing in front of his Commanding Officer, he was charged with unacceptable behaviour, disobeying a direct order, and a lack of decorum. He was reinstated back to Lance Corporal three months later.
- You can spot Shenkin IV during the Women’s Six Nations game at the Principality Stadium, on Saturday, March 29, at 4.45pm.
