REGIMENTAL MASCOTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9373, 31 October 1921, Page 5

REGIMENTAL MASCOTS.

— SCOTS GUARDS' COWS. Regimental mascots are many and various m the British Army, but the. 2nd Battalion Scots Guards is probably the only unit -nossessing a mascot which is more useful than ornamental — two Belgian cows. The animals were captured by the Scots at Fleurbaix, during the war on the Western FroS,- . tier, and their pet names are Bellaaml Bertha. They were attached to the battalion at the first battle of Ypres, and went through the various engager ments, accompanying the battalion into Germany after the armistice. The men are greatly attached to their pete/ particularly those who marched with them at the front. The Guardsmon who first "had charge of the animals was killed, and they were then transferred to the care of r Guardsman Marshall, who saw that, they did not lack food m the battle area. Though they were not officially on the strength of the battalion, he managed to commandeer sufficient turnips and clover to keep them, and m return the cows provided an excellent supply of milk. When the Soots Guards came home the two cows were included m the Victory March through London. They have been decorated by many of the agricultural associations of the country, and the Prince of Wales has accepted one of the five calves born to them. By permission of the King, the cows have been allowed to graze on the Royal meadows at Frogmore. Large sums of money have been offered for their purchase, but the battalion would not part with their mascots.