Two names were seriously considered for the mascot. The first name was Henry Waterhouse. The original Henry Waterhouse was a Naval Officer who bought the first Merino sheep to Australia. He was an Officer of HMS Sirius in the First Fleet, and subsequently returned to England after Sirius was wrecked on Norfolk Island in 1791. Later he was Second Captain of HMS Reliance, which was sent to pick up stock at the Cape of Good Hope, and ship them to NSW. While at the Cape he bought a number of Spanish Merino sheep, which he and Lieutenant Kent of HMS Supply shipped to the colony. On arrival in Sydney he sold his sheep and a number of them went to John Macarthur of Camden. The name of Henry Waterhouse was not selected for the mascot’s name however, and the committee settled on the name of John Macarthur. As Lieutenant Colonel Philip said in a letter to the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Regiment, Macarthur was the more colourful figure in the Australian Merino sheep industry, even though he was “some what of a scoundrel”. The words proved to be prophetic because each mascot in turn, proved to be more than colourful and there was certainly some scoundrels among them.

 As soon as the name was selected the Macarthur-Onslow family was contacted as a matter of courtesy to ask permission to use the name. The head of the family, Major General Sir Denzil Macarthur-Onslow was delighted with the name and readily gave permission for its use. In his reply to the Battalion request he also offered a replacement for Private John Macarthur I , from the original flock on Camden Park Estate; a flock which had been pastured there since 1795 with no new blood line ever having been introduced. This offer was subsequently taken up some time later.

 After much argument concerning red tape with the Agriculture Departments of both Queensland and N.S.W., Private John Macarthur finally arrived at Enoggera (1) in February 1971. He was enlisted on 18 February 1971 and formally presented to the Battalion on 12 March 1971 by Private McPhee on behalf of his uncle. As is the way with soldiers, he immediately gained a nickname and he and his successors were all known as ‘Stan’.

 John Macarthur I was, by all accounts both a colourful beast (some have ventured to say a “miserable old.....…..”) and scoundrel and many of the stories about him have assumed legendary status. His disciplinary record, whilst blemished, seems to have had a guardian angel looking after it. On each of the occasions he was charged (striking a superior, conduct to the prejudice, resisting an escort, etc), 1st Military District Legal Branch managed to find some excuse to quash the conviction. This at least showed that the ‘Legal Eagles’ had some sort of heart in those days contrary to the opinion of many soldiers. During his career ‘Stan I’ also developed some habits which have added to the legend. He apparently took a liking to tobacco and could often be seen with a packet of Drum which he preferred to chew rather than smoke. He also developed, in the absence of a lady companion, an attraction for a fire hydrant in the Battalion area. This caused much amusement among the soldiers and spawned many stories, most of which are probably apocryphal, which are still circulating to this day.

 ‘Stan I’ did managed to find a few roses among the thorns during his nine year career with the Battalion and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 25 June 1971. On this occasion Central Army Records Office (CARO) showed considerable flexibility rarely shown in the Defence Force and authorised the promotion even though there was no evidence of the soldier having qualified in either Subject 1 or Subject 2 for Corporal. The records show that Stan was a generous soul and put $20 over the bar of the Other Ranks Canteen as a result of the promotion. When 9RAR was linked with 8RAR on 31 October 1973 to form 8/9RAR, Stan was naturally adopted as the mascot for the new Battalion.

 Sadly, “Stan I’ suffered from problems that many old Corporals face: bad feet and bad temper. In an extremely disloyal act (or so it seems in hindsight), two soldiers of the unit wrote to the CO explaining that he had ‘become impossible to handle’ and should be retired. As a result steps were taken to replace him and after discharge on 31 January 1980 he was retired to the Animal Husbandry Research Farm at Rocklea, Brisbane on 11 March 1980, having served nine years in the Battalion.

 A very generous offer of a replacement ram from the original flock at Camden was accepted and ‘Stan II’ was presented to the Battalion by Major General Sir Denzil and Lady Dorothy Macarthur-Onslow on 6 January 1980 as a five month old. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on Anzac Day 1981. He found it difficult to settle into life as a Non-Commissioned Officer and committed several offences over the next year including lying down on parade and wilful damage to his barracks. For this latter charge in April 1982, he was reduced to the rank of Private. In addition, he charged a window in which he saw his own reflection and shattered it, further blemishing his record.

 Private John Macarthur II was tragically murdered by dogs on the night of 24 June 1984. His normal barracks were being used for visitors at the time and Stan had volunteered to live in the field so that the visitors (goats) belonging to a visiting Ghurkha unit could be housed properly. He was set upon by a pack of cowardly dogs during the night and died of injuries. He was buried outside ‘The Rams Retreat’, the soldiers club. (2)

 Due to the untimely death of John Macarthur II it was some time before his replacement could be identified and enlisted. Through the generosity of Mr and Mrs. Lionel Roberts of Victoria Downs at Morven, and the Chairman of the Queensland Merino Stud Sheep Breeders Association, Mr Bruce Scott (later the Minister for Veterans Affairs) of Muckadilla, John Macarthur III was presented to the Battalion at a parade on 7 December 1984. He warmed to his role at once but alas, like his immediate predecessor, his reign was short. While on R&R (and it does not stand for rest and recreation) at his original home on Victoria Downs during the Christmas Leave break in 1985, he entered into an argument, about a lady, with another ram. A battle ensured and Lance Corporal Macarthur was fatally wounded. ‘Stan II’ died of wounds on 26 January 1986 and was buried at Victoria Downs. In the tradition of the Royal Australian Regiment, he went down fighting.

 Mr and Mrs Roberts again showed their generosity and immediately offered another ram to replace John Macarthur III. There was some speculation in the unit that they should ask for the victor of the conquest, however the Battalion did not push the case and a fine specimen of a ram was enlisted on 7 April 1986. ‘Stan IV’ settled in well and preformed admirably on his first ceremonial outing, Anzac Day 1986. He was showing that he had all the character and fire of his predecessors and he was the largest mascot the Battalion had yet seen.

 As a result of cancer and digestive problems ‘Stan IV’ died on 5 June 1991. A ball of hoochie cord the size of a cricket ball in his stomach didn’t help at all. The hoochie cord warrants an explanation – At the time it was unit policy that any soldier awarded a punishment of Confinement to Barracks (CB) was to sleep under a hoochie at the rear of Battalion Headquarters (BHQ). A permanent tent line was established in this area with one side of the hoochie being tied off on the fence of Stan’s enclosure. It was not until after his death that it was found ‘Stan IV’ had acquired a taste for the loose ends. After being cremated and following a short Memorial Service, the ashes of ‘Stan IV’ were also buried at ‘The Ram’s Retreat’

 ‘Stan V’ was donated by Mr and Mrs Huskisson from Wattle Downs, a merino ram stud a few kilometres south of The Gumms via Tara. ‘Stan V’ was born on 31 October 1990 and was enlisted in July 1991. His first task was in August 1991 at the Royal Brisbane Show (The Ekka), where he was shown off to Brisbane as a member of the Royal Guard for the Official Opening. Stan had an up and down life in the army. He was charged with disobeying a lawful command (He layed down on a Battalion Parade and refused to stand when ordered to do so) and although he was found guilty, no punishment was ever decided upon. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in March 1992. When 8/9 RAR was removed form the Order of Battle on 30 June 1997, ‘Stan V’ was retired to a life of leisure at the Australian Wool Shed Ferny Grove. Sadly, just a month or so later in July, in similar circumstances to one of his predecessors, he was seriously injured whilst courting a lady friend and had to be put down. ‘Stan V’ was buried at The Woolshed.

 Some interesting traditions have grown up around the mascot. Former members of the Officers Mess and Sergeants Mess of 9RAR would be aware of the tradition of the ‘Shilling’ whereby all members were to carry a Rams Head Shilling which had to be produced on demand. If the member could not produce the shilling when challenged they were to shout the bar. This tradition (3) was perpetuated in 8/9 RAR.

 The five Macarthur’s in their own way typified the qualities of the type of soldier who is needed in an Infantry Battalion. They were aggressive, steadfast, brave and resolute in the face of danger. Two of them died fighting, one died of cancer and two were retired honourably after long and faithful service. They all at various times showed the considerable courage of conviction needed to refuse orders which they considered unfair, and then when punished, endured the punishment without complaining. Would it not be a much better world if we all had just a few of these qualities?

(1) 9RAR then occupied the barracks area now known as Long Tan Lines (6RAR)

(2) The Rams Retreat is now The John French VC Club of 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment

(3) Now continued by 8/9RAR Association using a Rams Head 50 cent coin

September 2002