Why Regimental Goat will get special treatment before Bangor military parade

North Wales Live

03-05-2025

Every soldier knows the dire consequences of being found drinking on duty. But one bearded Lance Corporal parading in Bangor later this month has been excused any disciplinary action.
For this one is a goat and part of his official, daily, army rations is a pint of Guinness! As the Regimental Goat of the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh, L/Cpl Shenkin the Goat will be given his traditional daily pint before heading an illustrious parade.
Shenkin will lead the spectacular Bangor city centre parade with 200 uniformed army and RAF personnel on Thursday, May 29 as part of the city's marking of its 1,500th year of foundation in 525AD. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
Goat Major "Jacko" Jackson said: "Until recently the Regimental Goat of the Royal Welsh was also issued with two cigarettes a day which it would briefly chew, then swallow. Quite correctly, he was weaned off cigarettes.
"But the daily pint of Guinness remain on official Rations - as necessary of course, as part of their intake of iron vitamins!" he said. Indeed when visiting his regimental headquarters at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff Shenkin sometimes goes into the beer-garden of the Heath pub opposite.
"He loves human company, and customers love him, but I have to stay alert. Given half a chance he'd cadge another free beer from one of the pub patrons!" said Sgt Jackson. Shenkin's predecessor Regimental Goat Lance Corporal Gwillam 'Taffy' Jenkins had other chill-out routines after a day on parade.
He seemed to like BBC Radio Two which was played 24-hours a day in his luxury Regimental Goat-quarters. And his other love was plotting ways of ambushing unsuspecting young officers. "More than a few of them suffered badly bruised backsides," laughed his former handler."
It will almost be a homecoming in North Wales for Shenkin as he was selected by the Regiment from a herd of feral goats which for centuries have thrived on Llandudno 's Great Orme.
Regimental Goat Shenkin will take pride and place ahead of the Army Band, the Welsh Guards, The Royal Welsh, RAF, 160 Medical Squadron, and others past Bangor High Street's Town Clock where newly elected Mayor Medwyn Hughes and senior military officers will "salute" him as he trots ahead.
Bangor City Councillor Mark Roberts, a former "red beret" Para explained: "They won't be actually saluting the Goat but rather the coat it wears bearing the insignia and honours of the Regiment. The Goat represents the long and distinguished history of the Royal Welsh and all those regiments amalgamated into it."
After the Bangor parade, Shenkin and his Goat Major will be at the Storiel children's play area to meet the children of Bangor but the army asks: Please no food gifts or dogs off leads. Shenkin has a very strict diet … and very sharp horns.