ONE of the mascots of The Royal Welsh, Taffy the goat has died it was announced today.

The animal, who is also known as Lance Corporal Gwillam Jenkins, had become famous throughout Wales and elsewhere following their support to Freedom Parades and the London Olympics in 2012.

Taffy had met Royalty, the Prime Minister and a long list of famous personalities, all of whom admired his good behaviour and personality.

Taffy had also led the Welsh Rugby Union team out onto the pitch in the Millennium Stadium becoming familiar with members of the national side.

The goat who also had his own service number, 24416906, died peacefully in his pen in the early hours of May 14.

Regimental Secretary of The Royal Welsh, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kilmister said: “The Regimental Mascot is part of who we are as a Welsh Regiment. Lance Corporal Gwillam Jenkins will be missed by members of the Regiment but his blood line will continue and the next generation of mascots will maintain his legacy and our tradition.”

Regimental Adjutant, The Royal Welsh, Captain Ben Phillips said: “As an officer of the Regiment on duty I would have to check Taffy each night, ensuring that he was in good health and spirit. Occasionally he would trigger his own goat ambush on an unsuspecting new officer during these checks, much to everyone’s amusement, but for the most time he behaved himself. As I recall he preferred to listen to BBC Radio Two while relaxing in his pen.

Since the earliest days of the Regiment’s goat mascot, it has been traditional for the animal to be cared for by a member of the Drums Platoon, usually a Non Commissioned Officer, known as the Goat Major. He is entirely responsible for all the duties of feeding, watering, exercising, grooming and, of course, instilling the necessary parade discipline into a young Regimental goat. Fusilier Owen is the current Goat Major in 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, who had looked after Taffy on a daily basis.

There are many stories of how the goat came to be our Regimental mascot. One relates to the Crimean War of 1854-56 and the 41st of Foot or the Welch Regiment. It is said that a young Welsh soldier found a kid goat, maybe to supplement his poor rations or maybe to keep him as a pet. This young Welsh soldier was on sentry duty during a cold night, so he put the goat inside his grey coat to keep him warm, but the soldier fell asleep.

An enemy Russian patrol approached the Welsh position and the goat bleated whilst the enemy approached. The goat woke the young Welsh soldier, who was alerted and woke up his fellow Welshmen and repelling the Russian attack. Perhaps it was this event that led to the first goat being presented by Queen Victoria from her Royal Herd at Windsor at around 1860.

A letter has been written to The Colonel in Chief of The Royal Welsh, Her Majesty the Queen, informing her of the death of Taffy, but also to ask permission for The Royal Welsh to select a new goat from the Great Orme in Llandudno, North Wales. Over the summer men of the Regiment will go there to help round up the goat herd and choose a new mascot. Once herded together a kid goat will be adopted into the regiment. The Goat Major will then begin the hard work and instil the necessary self-restraint and obedience into the goat.

Taffy the VI’s headstone will be added to the many others that have served the Regiment over the years in the garden outside of Regimental Headquarters.