Sergeant Mark Jackson and 'Shenkin II', the mascot of the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh, 2015

Photograph by Timothy Jones, Royal Logistic Corps, 2015.

The Royal Welsh and its predecessor units' relationship with goats dates back to an incident at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, during the American War of Independence. A wild goat is reputed to have strayed on to the battlefield and led the Royal Welsh Fusiliers' colour party from the field. A goat has served with the Regiment and its successor units ever since.

In 1884 Queen Victoria presented the Regiment with a Kashmir goat from her royal herd. Subsequently, the Royal Welsh have obtained all their regimental goats as a gift from the monarch. This means that they are deemed ranking members of the Regiment rather than mascots.

From a collection of digital photographs relating to animals and the British Army, 2014-2015.