This week's theme almost confronted one with too much choice. My initial inclination was to go for Tortoise and turtles. No too obvious. Caps, Cap Badges, Pipes, Watches all considered and rejected in the pursuit of something hidden in the image. In an effort to find the different I even considered his ears and finger nails.As nothing came to mind, in the end I turned back to the obvious and decided on the most apparent, Regimental Mascots
Fusiliers and Mascot Bobby an Indian Black Buck
Bandsman Jimmy Durham at Aldershot Barracks 1904 with Regimental Mascot
Yorkshire Regiment and Ferret Mascot
6th. in France in 1916 with the Regimental Goat
French Vietnam Forces Mascot going for the ahhh Factor
Leitrim Boy aged 9 in 1916 at the Irish Guards' Waterford Barracks
The only evidence of a regimental mascot in the South Wales Borderers is to be found in pictures of these two wildebeest brought back from South Africa after the Boer War by the 2nd Battalion.
Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham & Derbyshire Regiment) and Private Derby
Spanish American War 69th Regimental mascot
 |
| Royal Welsh Regimental Mascot and Goat Major |
First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), which was established by Lord Kitchener, in 1907.
Boer Commando with their Mascot - an Armed
Baboon
Wisconsin Volunteers with Mascot Old Abe
Mascots in the military, it is interesting to see how dedicated they are to their mascots, like clinging to something normal, something nice in a world of guns and smoke. A fine account for Sepia Saturday.
ReplyDeleteEach has it's own story. Some last just for the life of the particular mascot. Other have continued with numerous occupants of the position. The Derby Ram, the Welsh Goat, the Irish Wolfhound have been around for over a century, and the Black Buck for a good while.
DeleteAn armed baboon? You got me there. I had to enlarge that photo!
ReplyDeleteHopefully, they didn't give it a loaded gun
DeleteThat armed baboon is the most scary. If you've ever encountered baboons in the wild, you'll know what I mean. They are bold, bolshy and extremely unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteAm I right in thinking that "Fusiliers and Mascot Bobby an Indian Black Buck" is taken with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background?
The fleeces being worn by "6th. in France in 1916 with the Regimental Goat" remind me very much of the cover photo of The Journal of Private Fraser, 1914-1918.
A very interesting set of images, thank you.
I think you're probably right
DeleteThis did cross my mind too, as I went to a fabulous exhibition at the Australian War Memorial a few years ago where Mascots were a feature - a fabulous collection there (and here) and some interesting stories behind them. I wonder if there is anything online about this exhibition.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting must look - somebody must have written a book about regimental mascot
DeleteI wonder what the mascots do while the fighting is going on.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great bunch of photos and a nice take on the theme.
Barbara
Certainly the early Rams actually went with the troops into battle, I suspect that now, with animal rights, they're in the Barracks.
DeleteAll of those mascots seem more interesting and inspiring than turtles to me.
ReplyDeleteThe ahhhhh factor took first prize for me.
ReplyDeleteExcellent research! Full marks all around!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that the green valleys of Wales could be filled with migrating wildebeest every spring.
You certainly went with the perfect one of a kind post here. Every one of their mascots were mostly oddly wonderful, or incredibly adorable, but even many of the people and their uniforms or hats are off the top wonderful! Fun post thanks.
ReplyDeleteA fine selection but some I would rather not see loose,
ReplyDeletelike that buck.
About that baboon,
I do hope they were careful...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxqIITtTtU
:)~
HUGZ
All antelopes are skittish, can't imagine it at the battlefront
DeleteHence the two leashes...
DeleteI wish I had thought of this, Fascinating pictures. Love the ferret and the Irish Wolfhound.
ReplyDeleteThe Ferrets, yes the only practical one to take into battle me thinks.
DeleteI was hoping someone would post on regimental mascots and here you are, finally, at the end of the list! Great photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you chose this theme Mike and provided us with a gallery of delightful photos. I was thinking they'd make a nice little photo book, so checked on google and sure enough a Major T J Edwards produced one called 'Regimental Mascots and Pets' not currently available on Amazon, but Abe Books wanted £39.00! So, we may have to wait awhile until a cheaper one pops up.
ReplyDeleteI'm partial to the dogs! (dog lover me) But the guy with the ferret- they look so sweet; reminds me of Mad-Eye turning Malfoy into a ferret hah! And I was particularly interested on the Sherwood Foresters. Just finished watching a film set in the Sherwood Forest.
ReplyDeleteOh they are all quite grand! My father told me about a dog in his squadron that had his own ID card for getting on and off the base. And then sometimes they'd sneak him aboard the plane for flights sitting in the cockpit.
ReplyDeleteSome are on the strength of the regiment, draw rations, have duties etc., etc, others are more casual arrangements.
DeleteThis dog was never "authorized" to do any of it. It was all very hush hush. In fact, the one guy who ended up with the dog following the war used to use the dogs ID to get on and off the base. For some reason I'm drawing a blank as to his name, but the dog's name was Boots.
DeleteThere were also sorts of strange arrangements. Troops would adopt all manner of animal (and sometimes Kids)for shorter or longer periods. I suppose it helped take their minds of what was going on around them
DeleteI love all these mascots - the ferret is my favorite. The armed baboon is a bit of a surprise but what the heck - it was war!! Great post!
ReplyDeleteSorry, but a ferret has to be the worst mascot of the bunch, although I'm not sure I'd trust a baboon with a gun.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post, sir. I especially like the ferret. I wonder if the platoon competed in ferret-legging? I'm not sure I would have chosen a sheep for my mascot!
ReplyDeleteThe famous Sheep - is the Derby Ram - it has been sang about for over 150 years;
Delete"And it's true me lads, true me lads, I've never been known lie;
If you'd been down in Derby, you'd say the same as I."
Sean, I think the Ferret is the most practical to take into battle. It can be slipped anywhere in the luggage or on the body. An might even have a use for catching rabbits if things get tight.
ReplyDeleteI am so late getting around SS164, SS165 is already getting filled up! Anyway, whenever in the week it might be, it is always a delight to wander through a collection of fascinating images such as this.
ReplyDeleteYour Post Inspired To Imagine What Mascot al-Qaeda May Have ( & I decided it was probably best not too.........!)
ReplyDelete