Watchman (mascot)
When a mascot dies or a handler retires, another Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy is chosen to replace him.
When a Watchman passes away, they are buried with full military honours in St Edwards Square in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.
Watchman attends events featuring the Staffordshire Regimental Association, where he has been invited by the parade organisers, or where he has been granted Freedom of the town or village.
In 1882 The South Staffordshire Regiment received orders to march with Lord Wolseley to the relief of General Gordon, under siege in Khartoum.
However, as the train began to move the startled Boxer leaped to the tracks and was last seen by the men lying dead or unconscious.
The regiment reached Assiut where they waited several days for orders for the final phase of their march, at which point Boxer staggered into the camp looking very thin and exhausted.
He collapsed at the men's feet, having walked over 200 miles through the desert along the rail tracks to get back to his regiment.
Upon hearing this Watchman I raised his head and began to march to wide public applause.
He was buried alongside Watchman I in St Edwards Square, with a commemorative plaque placed onsite.
[3] Following the death of Watchman II, the regimental family felt that the time honored tradition mascot should continue.
After a search to find a dog of the correct pedigree the town of Burton upon Trent again presented the Regiment with a new mascot, Watchman III, in 1988.
Watchman IV was buried with full military honours in St Edwards Square in Burton upon Trent on 5 December 2013.
[5] Due to the widespread use of social media, he has become the biggest profile Watchman to date, amassing nearly 20,000 followers on Facebook.
Watchman V has been presented to HRH Prince Harry[6] at the Garden of Remembrance in Westminster Abbey.
As part of the Regimental Association he also holds freedom of many other places such as Cannock, and Hanley, in Stoke on Trent.
Such was the pride and affection for Watchman, the Staffordshire civic community wanted to ensure he could continue to parade with the Mercian Regiment in their own towns, as he is not their official mascot.
[13][14] In October 2016 Watchman V's handler, Greg Hedges, was shortlisted for the Express & Star "Big Thank You" awards in the Ambassador of the year category.
[18] He was promoted to sergeant as part of the 2015 St Georges Day celebration held in Tamworth Castle Grounds and Colour sergeant on 21 December 2017 at the Kings Head Pub in Lichfield, as part of the Ferozeshah day celebrations.
A project has been launched to build a life-size bronze statue as a tribute to the Watchman, their handlers and the Staffordshire Regimental family.
