Thanks to one-time Dorset resident Mike Wilmott, now of Shrewsbury, for bringing this timely poem to our attention on Armistice Day.

‘The Volunteer Cwore’, about the Home Guard of the First World War, is written in traditional Dorset dialect.

Mike is asking if anyone else has any knowledge of E.W Riggs and an interest in collecting written works in Dorset dialect.

He said: “E.W. Riggs was born about 1880. Two poems of his in Dorset dialect were reproduced in the Dorset Year Book 1951-2.

“The second – Noble Do’set - proved he was a highly patriotic local enthusiast. “The first – The Volunteer Cwore – showed that he recorded the doings of the Dorset Yeomanry from the outset of the war until Armistice Day, with the same zeal for pronouncing the glories of ‘Old Darset’.

“My research has it that The Volunteer Corps might be the Third Reserve Battalion, a depot or training unit from Dorchester that remained in the UK throughout the war.

“They moved on mobilisation to Weymouth and in June 1915 went on to Wyke Regis for a role with the Portland garrison.

“The poem includes no Wilfred Owen-type recognition of the tragic loss of battalions and battalions of Dorset men.

“However, it does offer a quaint vision of the wild jingoism that sent Dorset men to war.”

Mike has drawn upon his own fascination with Dorset dialect to translate the poem.

He said: “I’m a Loders-Bridport born ‘Dorset-phile’, ex-patriate, living in Shropshire. I was born in Loders Vicarage in 1949.

“If read aloud by a Dorset local there is no problem – substitute ‘s’ for ‘z’, ‘f’ for ‘v’, and you are pretty well there.

“In the verse I guessed ‘bust’ is the Dorset past tense for ‘to buy’ – but I might be wrong!”

If anyone has any knowledge of E.W. Riggs and an interest in collecting written works in Dorset dialect, contact Mike Wilmott by emailing shrewsburywords@hotmail.com Th’ Volunteer Cwore’ TH’ ‘WHOME GUARD’ OF THE VUST WORLD WHAR by E. W. RIGGS In Nineteen-fourteen, when the War broke out, The old Dorset folk did begin to ‘spout’. * Then some did say this, and some did say that Till some of them did pretty well go ‘Crack!’ Some did say they must be up and doing, For Dorset chaps didn’t lack for ‘schooling’.

The main lot said – ‘We’ll be well to the fore,’ So they up and formed ‘The Volunteer Corps’.

*(‘spout’ = let forth, go on about something) That was the name they were called from the first.

Then some grand uniforms, lord, they did ‘bust’;* With a large leather belt drawn round them tight, Then they bought firearms to show they could fight.

They drilled in daylight, and drilled in the dark, And they didn’t do any of it for a lark; For the same old spirit did flow in their blood, So the Corps they formed was soon in full flood.

*‘bust’ = ‘buy’, I think The fellers did join from all the way round: Chaps from the village, chaps from the towns, The masters of the farms, the masters of the shops, The whole lot together formed some darned good shots.

Old Dorchester Town they made their head place, For it showed they had some jolly good tast.

The old Shire Hall, the County Clerk did declare They could have for a while – if they took good care.

When they did come to the old Shire Hall They did hand out guns, and show off for a while.

The order to “Fall in!” they smartly made. “Form Fours!”

And away up the street they took their way.

Machine guns they took out of the Museum, Shoved them on wheels for the folk to see them; So smart and soldier-like they all did look That pride the Old Folk in the new Corps they took.

There was Mayo and White, Pattersen and Legg – Of such a smart lot of chaps Dorset could brag; And Pouncy and Duke, and a lot of Williamses, Some of them beforehand had ‘taken the Queen’s shilling’*.

At outposts and guard duty the Corps grew smart, And many a ‘civvy’ they pulled up with a start.

In the Corn Exchange the bayonet they learnt to handle: At inspections their equipment shined like a candle.

*’to take the Queen’s shilling’ = to join the Armed Forces (should be George V ie the King’s shilling in 1914 – unless referring to Queen Victoria veterans?) They guarded White Nose on rugged Dorset’s coast Through long dark nights, to defeat the Foe’s boast.

So sprightly and keen to the duty they took, That the Foe didn’t give them as much as a look; They then had the chance to ‘show off’ in the light On the R.E. (Weymouth) Dump* – it was a bit of all right, With fixed bayonets glittering all day in the sun Saluting the Officers, you see, it was very fine fun.

‘R.E.(Weymouth) Dump’ –Royal Engineers But the cream of the guards was down at Smailmouth At Whiteheads’ Torpedo Works, via Weymouth.

Two ‘posts’ were handed over to the Volunteer Corps Full strong every night, whether it rained or poured.

Our ‘Cookie’ was all there, with frying pan and pot, Spuds, duck and green peas, and pudding all hot; Then every morning, before we cleaned up the hut – Eggs, bacon and coffee, on the table he put.

Eggardon Hill, Girt Toiler, a pitched battle was fought; Quarry Hills, Bridport, against the ‘Foe’ they sought; Puddletown and Duddle Heaths the going were hot; Coker’s Frome and Came Hoods rang out with their shots; Inspections at Templecombe by England’s Chief – Gen. French, At Wyke and Littlemoor they fought wire and trench, Formed ‘Guards of Honour’ to those Regts.* who’d done their bit.

After the Peace-day Processions – Handed in their Kit.

*’Regts.’ - Regiments