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 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.