7RAR says goodbye to its mascots – doesn’t say why

Clad in unit colours, William and Elizabeth, the beloved pig mascots of the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), trotted through Horseshoe Lines at RAAF Base Edinburgh for the final time.

CAPTION: Pig mascots William and Elizabeth are farewelled by the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Bagpipes sounded and soldiers applauded as the porcine pals were given a full colour-party escort out the unit’s front gate on July 4.

The well-fed hogs received a formal farewell at the unit boozer, dubbed the Pig Pen, before being piped out of the compound.

Commanding Officer 7RAR Lieutenant Colonel Von Lambert said they didn’t want the pigs to depart before the unit’s last warfighting exercises and operational commitments were completed.

EDITOR’S NOTE: While this story doesn’t say why the unit mascots are being abandoned, it would seem a rumour promulgated by retired Major General Fergus McLachlan via Twitter last year may indeed be true –  “speculation that the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and the 1st Armoured Regiment may be disbanded in the near future“. More details here.

“We waited until July so we weren’t doing without our ‘spirit animals’ because it felt like a bad omen,” Lieutenant Colonel Lambert said.

The pigs marched with the unit on ceremonial occasions, attended open days and sporting matches to raise morale, and made their fair share of trouble, according to the Commanding Officer.

“I can remember at least two occasions where they have escaped from their enclosure, wandered straight past the guard room, and commenced tearing up the base gardens,” he said.

“They tended to leave gifts on the lawn at the local WONCO [Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers] Academy, as well.”

According to handler Corporal Thomas Alexander, the pigs were well liked, with diggers teaching William to sit for food.

“They were a representation of the unit, more than anything else; they just brought morale to whatever event we had,” Corporal Alexander said.

CAPTION: Mascots William and Elizabeth are piped out as the mascots for the Pig Battalion (7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment).

The pair were handed over to Padma and Kim from Freedom Hill Sanctuary, a local animal rescue farm, with the unit raising funds for their care.

“We knew straight away that this was the best place for them to continue to live long and happy lives … you could see just how happy they were to take ownership of Willy and Elizabeth,” Lieutenant Colonel Lambert said.

The pigs arrived at the unit in 2022 and were housed in Horseshoe Lines, a departure from the normal approach to sponsor a pig in another location.

“There’s a sad feeling around the battalion, seeing the pigs get sent out, especially from guys who have come into the unit in the last few years, because that’s all they know,” Corporal Alexander said.

“It’s a bit of a sign for the unit coming to a close. Seeing the mascots go, it becomes all the more real that the battalion’s going to be moving as well.”

The Piping of the Pigs was last undertaken in 1973 before the Royal Australian Regiment’s 5th and 7th Battalions were initially linked.

A pig was chosen as 7RAR’s mascot when its first commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Smith, allegedly called the soldiers a “mob of pigs” after they trashed their lines during a long weekend in early 1965.

A soldier at the back of the next morning parade is said to have shouted “oink oink” and the Pig Battalion was born.

“One of our great traditions involves the pigs – they reflect us as a unit – they are rough, determined and no-fuss,” Lieutenant Colonel Lambert said.

“Importantly, they are always ‘snouts to the ground’, always looking for the next job and unbothered by the world around them. We are so very proud to serve as the Pig Battalion.”

CAPTION: Mascots William and Elizabeth prepare for their farewell from their home unit at RAAF Base Edinburgh

.

.


.


.