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William Windsor (goat)
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"Billy the goat" redirects here. For other uses, see Billy goat (disambiguation).
William Windsor I
White goat wearing metal headdress and green coat, stands beside soldier in red ceremonial uniform, and a white helmet; a child in a push-chair is pointing at the goat
Nickname(s) Billy
Born 2000 (22–23 years old)
Whipsnade Zoo
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 2001–2009
Rank Lance corporal
Service number 25232301
Unit 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh
Retirement Whipsnade Zoo
William "Billy" Windsor I is a cashmere goat who served as a lance corporal in the 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh, an infantry battalion of the British Army.[1] He served as a lance corporal from 2001 until 2009, except for a three-month period in 2006 when he was demoted to fusilier, after inappropriate behaviour during the Queen's Official Birthday celebrations while deployed on active duty with the battalion on Cyprus. He retired to Whipsnade Zoo in May 2009.
His young replacement is known as William Windsor II.
Contents
1 History
2 William Windsor I
2.1 Temporary demotion
2.2 Retirement
3 William Windsor II
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
History
The tradition of having goats in the military originated in 1775,[2] when a wild goat walked onto the battlefield in Boston[2] during the American Revolutionary War and led the Welsh regimental colours at the end of the Battle of Bunker Hill.[3][4] Another Welsh military goat, Taffy IV, served in the First World War. Taffy, of 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, is officially recorded as "The Regimental Goat". He embarked for the war on 13 August 1914 and saw action in the Retreat from Mons, the First Battle of Ypres (including the Battle of Gheluvelt) and the Battles of Festubert and Givenchy, before dying on 20 January 1915. He was posthumously awarded the
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