Storybook touch to ceremony at Victoria Barracks DPR/TV/1503

It will be almost an "Owl and the Pussycat" situation at Victoria Barracks next Tuesday (June 6 1972). But, whilst the wrong bird of prey will prevent a realistic parody of Edward Lear's tale, a giant and very real "pussycat" will play opposite. Corporal Courage, the wedged tail eagle mascot of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, will appear alongside Corporal Quintus, the 500 lb Sumatran tiger mascot of the Royal Australian Regiment's 5th Battalion, at the weekly Changing of the Guard. It will be the first time that Corporal Quintus has taken part in the traditional ceremony although his feathered counterpart has often done so. Except on ceremonial occasions Quintus, symbol of the 5th "Tiger" Battalion, is normally an inmate of Taronga Zoo for obvious reasons and will remain caged at Tuesday's ceremony which begins at 11 a.m. However, Corporal Courage, who resides at Holsworthy where both units are based, will assume his customary stance from a lofty perch suitably inscribed with the two gold stripes appropriate to his rank. Both corporals are administratively documented in the same fashion as any other member of the Army by their respective units.