The Mercian Regiment and their mascot celebrate Formation Day at Dale Barracks, Chester, 2015

Digital photograph by Corporal Michael Strachan, 2015.

The Mercian Regiment's mascot, a Swaledale ram named 'Private Derby', was promoted to lance corporal during the unit's formation day celebration at Dale Barracks in Chester on 1 September 2015. The tradition of the ram mascot dates back to the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) when the first 'Private Derby' was acquired by one of the Mercian Regiment's predecessor units, the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot, during the siege of Kotah in 1858.