Hero’s send-off with soldier pallbearers for Watchman V, the Army mascot dog for 13 years
Hero’s send-off with soldier pallbearers for Watchman V, the Army mascot dog for 13 years
Colour Sergeant Watchman V, a black Staffordshire bull terrier, died in January Nicknamed Somme, he represented the Staffordshire Regimental AssociationHe passed away less than two years after retiring from being a mascot there The dog was at more than 900 events and met nearly all of the Royal Family
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He had served with distinction for 13 years alongside his veteran comrades.
So perhaps it was only fitting that the mascot dog of Staffordshire Regimental Association received a hero’s send-off yesterday with a town hall funeral and soldier pallbearers.
Colour Sergeant Watchman V, a black Staffordshire bull terrier, died earlier this month less than two years after retiring.
Colour Sergeant Watchman V, a black Staffordshire bull terrier, died earlier this month less than two years after retiring
Nicknamed Somme, he represented the association at more than 900 events and met nearly all of the Royal Family – even ‘bowing’ to the Duke of Edinburgh once.
Association members stood to attention in Burton upon Trent yesterday as troops carried his coffin, covered with a Union Jack, inside the town hall. Watchman V, who was the association’s fifth mascot since the Second World War, was later buried in the hall’s gardens next to his predecessors.
He has two streets in the country named after him and helped raise thousands through his Christmas cards and calendar.
Patricia Ackroyd, mayor of East Staffordshire, said he was ‘well-loved by everyone who knew him’.
She said: ‘Watchman V was a loving member of his own family and well loved by everyone who knew him in his extensive career, with over 900 events, all over the country.
‘It is an honour for the borough for him to be laid to rest with his predecessors in our town hall gardens.’
The Staffordshire regiment was officially disbanded in 2007 and merged to become part of the Mercian Regiment.
A Facebook page dedicated to the canine and his successor, Watchman VI, who also attended yesterday’s ceremony, has more than 26,000 followers – where by last night almost 400 people had paid tribute to the mascot
A Facebook page dedicated to the canine and his successor, Watchman VI, who also attended yesterday’s ceremony, has more than 26,000 followers – where by last night almost 400 people had paid tribute to the mascot.
Handler Greg Hedges said: ‘He semi-retired in March 2020 and I made him a scarlet Chelsea Pensioner’s coat so he could keep going to events,’ he added.
Watchman V was also given the freedom of towns including Tamworth, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Uttoxeter.
