Cyprus-Forum.com

[rolo]

London, Sept 27: No one was happier when a recent parade went off without incident than Billy Windsor, the goat, for his good behavior meant that he was reinstated to the rank of lance-corporal.

Till last year, Billy the goat, the mascot of the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, was a proud lance-corporal in the regiment.

Billy was demoted to the rank of fusilier - equivalent of private soldier - in June 2005 after he ruined a parade celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday at a military base in Cyprus, when he decided to run amok.

The goat dodged his handler and darted from side to side, throwing soldiers off their stride.

However, after passing with flying colors in the Alma Day parade — marking the battalion's victory in the Crimean War in 1854 recently - his first public appearance since his demotion, seven year old Billy was reinstated by his commanding officer, and is now once again a lance-corporal.

"He has had all summer to reflect on his behavior at the Queen's birthday and clearly earned the rank he deserves," the International Herald Tribune quoted the regimental spokesman Capt. Simon Clarke, as saying.

Being reinstated means that Billy can now enjoy the other privileges of others of his rank, including membership of the Corporals Mess and having ordinary soldiers stand to attention in his presence.

The 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh was presented with a goat from the royal herd in 1746, and Billy is a descended from the same bloodline

[cypezokyli]

[andreasv]

and the ver meddling British government