Intangible heritage can be best defined as the traditions and customs that form an integral part of societies around the world, yet for the most part leave no physical material behind. Examples from British civilian life might include the marking of significant calendar dates, such as those of St George and St David, or performative activities such as traditional dances and music.
The British Army is, in a sense, a society within a society, with its own history stretching back over five hundred years and therefore has its own extensive intangible heritage landscape. Tradition, and the maintenance of it, retain a hugely important place in Army life to this day, helping to maintain a shared sense of identity and purpose among those who serve within its ranks. Some traditions take the form of grand ceremonies, such as Trooping the Colour, performed in London annually to mark the Official Birthday of the Sovereign.
The Regimental Colours of the Coldstream Guards being paraded at Trooping the Colour (UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025)
Other traditions are specific to a smaller group of soldiers, such as the examples depicted here:
Regimental marches
Most British Army regiments and corps have adopted a specific musical tune as their official march. As the name suggests, this tune will traditionally be played while the regiment is marching on parade. For example, the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) made use of an American originating tune entitled “Wait for the Wagon “, while the Royal Army Ordnance Corps selected “The Village Blacksmith”, actually a musical setting of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
An Army Ordnance Corps Band during the First World War
Regimental Days
Another custom common to most regiments is the commemoration on certain dates of historical events in the unit’s history. This aids regiments to further define their identity and to preserve their heritage. Often these days are anniversaries of battles, such as Waterloo Day, marked, naturally enough on June 18th, by the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. These commemorations typically allow an opportunity for serving and former members of the regiment to socialise and to remember fallen comrades.
Regimental mascots
A slightly more tangible Army tradition is the keeping of animals of many varieties as regimental mascots. These animals are typically treated like any other soldier, and serve an important purpose in supposedly bringing their comrades luck, and boosting morale.
The Royal Welsh Regiment has, since the American Revolutionary War, adopted goats among its ranks. Serving in the strict discipline of the military, however, could not completely alter the goats’ animal instincts. One goat, William Windsor I, known as Billy, proved particularly troublesome. Billy, Army number 25232301, was in 2006 demoted from Lance Corporal to Fusilier after some rowdy behaviour at a parade in Cyprus, marking the then Queen’s Official Birthday. He was later reinstated, and presumably continued to receive his usual compliment of two cigarettes to eat and Guinness to drink!
The Royal Madras Fusiliers were the owners of a slightly more imposing companion, a Bengal tiger named Plassey, after the famous battle of 1757. When the regiment moved to England in 1870, Plassey became a resident of their base at Dover. Living unchained, he proved a somewhat unnerving presence for local residents, and was finally moved to London Zoo in 1877.
Plassey the tiger (Image Courtesy of the National Army Museum; NAM. 1964-08-341-2)
On display at the RLC Museum one can find Tiney, canine mascot of Company 12 of the Commissariat and Transport Corps. While serving in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882, Tiney received a foot injury, but recovered. After returning to England and receiving both the Egypt Medal and the Khedive Star for his service, Tiney was sadly killed, likely by being run over by a tradesman’s cart, in 1885.
Tiney the dog, as displayed at the RLC Museum today
Ghurkha traditions
The Brigade of Gurkhas, composed of Nepalese soldiers famed both for their bravery and ferocity in combat, has formed part of the British Army since 1815, and today includes the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, part of the RLC.
Remaining steadfastly loyal during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the Sirmoor Battalion was, instead of new colours, presented with the Queen’s Truncheon, or ‘Nishani Mai’. Now in the possession of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, new recruits are still sworn in under its watchful presence.
Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, stood beside the Nishani Mai at Buckingham Palace (image courtesy of the Gurkha Museum)
Gurkha soldiers still carry their traditional sidearm, a formidable, curved knife known as a kukri. While these weapons still serve a very practical purpose, they provide an intangible connection to the Gurkhas’ culture of origin. Such knives are used for many non-combat purposes in the villages of the Nepalese hills, and they also carry religious significance. The weapon possesses a notch near the base of its blade, which some have interpreted as symbolic of the Hindu trinity of gods known as the Trimurti, consisting of the deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
A kukri, c.1915, displaying its characteristic notch (National Army Museum Copyright NAM. 2000-10-677-1)
In conclusion, it is clear that tradition, and the continuance of it, remains an integral part of the modern British Army, and will almost certainly continue to do so for as long as the Army itself is in existence.
Author- George Matthews, Volunteer
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