The tradition of having goats in the military originated in 1775 , when a wild goat walked onto the battlefield in Boston during the American Revolutionary War and led the Welsh regimental colours at the end of the Battle of Bunker Hill . 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 1914 Star , British War Medal and the Victory Medal
1914 Star
1914 Star
William Windsor (goat)