Army demotes naughty goat
From: Reuters
June 26, 2006
Disgraced ... army mascot Billy Goat with a handler / AP
The six-year-old mascot goat for a British army battalion has been demoted in disgrace for kidding around during a parade in full view of dignitaries.
Billy Goat has been a mascot of the First Battalion, the Royal Welsh regiment, since he was six months old and had the official rank of lance-corporal before his frisky antics during a parade marking Queen Elizabeth's official birthday earlier this month.
The army said he had been demoted to fusilier (private) as a result of his behaviour.
"The goat major had a hard time keeping him in line, he was bouncing around all over the place,'' military spokesman Captain Crispian Coates said.
Doubly embarrassing was Billy's refusal to obey commands in front of diplomats and army top brass, Coates said.
"This is his first overseas tour. He has certainly not made a good start for himself.''
One for Gordo
