The Staffordshire bull terrier, the proud mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment for more than 120 years, is to be replaced next week – by a ram.
Soldiers of the county regiment are furious at the downgrading of their stocky little black terrier, Watchman IV. He has been on every major parade with the Staffords for the past 10 years.
The soldiers had hoped he would become the mascot of the new Mercian Regiment, which will be officially created at a ceremony in Tamworth on Saturday September 1.
Instead, Watchman IV is to make way for Private Derby, a Swaledale ram.
“The lads are furious,” a regimental insider told the Express & Star.
“What the hell has a ram got to do with Staffordshire or anywhere else in the Midlands?”
The new Mercian Regiment comprises the Staffords, Cheshires and the Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
The controversial merger has already caused resentment among Staffords officers and men who have recently returned from the frontline in Iraq. The downgrading of Watchman IV to an “unofficial mascot” is seen as the latest snub. “They have taken our traditions, our cap badge and our status,” said the soldier. “Now they are taking our dog as well.”
Steve Whitehouse, the Wednesbury breeder who presented Watchman IV to the Staffords 10 years ago, said today: “I think it’s a shame. Why can’t they have two mascots, each with the same status?”
Private Derby is part of the traditions of the defunct Derbyshire Regiment, which was merged into the Sherwood Foresters in 1881.
In the new Mercian Regiment, the ram will appear on full regimental parades. Watchman IV will be seen only at events featuring the regiment’s 3rd (Staffords) Battalion.
Critics say the ram is not as reliable as the terrier. In 2001, the then Private Derby was confined to barracks during the foot and mouth epidemic.
Said the Staffords soldier: “Besides anything else, rams are rubbish on parade. A dog will obey a word of command but a ram will not. It will be a shambles.”
Major Mike Tarbuck, a spokesman for the Staffordshire Regiment, said Private Derby was getting the top job because he was an official British Army mascot while Watchman IV was an unofficial mascot.
“But Watchman is still going to be about,” he said. “We hope he will be seen as much as possible.”
10 Comments
As an old South Staffs,im amazed the Mascot is not Gay,or Ken Livingstone,we fought for freedom,now ive left i wonder why,its not the land of my Birth anymore,Harry Harrisons were my Kin,say no more
the lads are furious? wow, they need some real issues to deal with if that makes them furious!
shouldnt be using animals as mascots anyway…get a teddy bear to represent!
dee dee get a life you sad loser . The staffordshire bull terrier is a true sign of staffordshire and is known world wide
Well said Heathrow Wolf.
dee dee, what a name,got it from a goat did you,you have no idea of the Staffordshire Regiments background or traditions,I served in both the South Staffs and Staffordshires,
if you have nothing constructive to say,its best to shut it,then again, we do meet people like you on a daily basis,sad loser.
DeeDee how dare you say “they need some real issues to deal with” do you not read the papers or watch the news???
I think its ridiculous to change The Staffordshire Regiment mascot, for heavens sakes why have a Swaledale Ram as Heathrow Wolf says the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has always been associated with the Staffords and is known worldwide.
DeeDee Watchman IV is well looked after as are all animals in the forces.
Widow of 1 Staffords Soldier, killed in action. said: DeeDee Watchman IV is well looked after as are all animals in the forces…
good, so will its replacement be! all good then!
and I say again…ITS A MASCOT!
get over yourselves
I dont blame the lads for being furious. Imagine saying to the Welsh regiments that they have to swap their goats from the Orme in Llandudno, for a dog or the Irish Guards couldn’t have a wolfhound!I’m sure they wouldn’t put up with it.
I feel so sorry for you DeeDee, you obviously have never cared for anything in your life!!! No-one has said he isn’t a mascot but its also down to tradition why do we have to change it??
Deedee,must be a typical labour voter as she supports the dumming down of the staffordshire regiment.what pride can a serving soldier have in a regiment called the Mercian. When you look back at the history of the saffords you see the formed in about 1750 serving in Marinque in 1794 in Sudan 1882, South africa 1878 then 2 world wars and most conflicts since. Daft as may seem this gives the men somthing to take a pride in GRUMPY