Page 11 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

DERBY THE RAM PROMOTED TO LANCE CORPORAL ON FORMATION DAY
Derby XXX was promoted to Lance Corporal on Formation Day in September. The occasion was hosted by 2 MERCIAN.
The Swaledale Ram, one of only seven official mascots in the British Army, is now entitled to wear a single stripe on his uniform.
He was resplendent in his scarlet coat with lincoln green and gold facings, emblazoned with the regiment’s main battle honours.
Private Derby received his promotion from the Colonel of the Regiment. Commanding Officer of 2 MERCIAN, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Wilde MBE said: “This is the latest in a long line
of ‘Derby’s’ to have served as our regimental mascot and not all of them are as well behaved as our newest was today - he is well deserving of his promotion!”
Tug of War Championships, where the regiment performed excellently.
Moving into summer, we started our numerous visits to local areas to unveil Victoria Cross winner’s memorial stones. The start of July saw Derby visiting Crich, with the weather this year taking a massive turn for the worse.
Derby’s highlight of the year came with Formation Day on the 1st September at The Dale Barracks, Chester. Here our Regimental Mascot was promoted to Lance Corporal, after receiving his promotion from the Colonel of the Regiment. I must say that this has been very well deserved from his good behaviour, and was a very proud moment for me too.
Sadly, Lance Corporal Derby died two months after this on Friday 27 November.
A post mortem examination on the body of Derby concluded that he died due to respiratory arrest. A vet advised that this was due to a bacterial infection, caused by eating infected grass which had been contaminated by other wildlife.
This bacterium can take as little as two hours to kill after eating, irrespective of the current health of the infected animal.
Derby had been vaccinated against
this. However, the vet advised that
this vaccination, along with any other vaccination is never 100 per cent effective, but remains the best prevention method currently available.
Stand Firm Strike Hard.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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