Air— The Wearin' o' the Green.
With pride we heard our country's call, for which we waited long,
And gladly we have rallied round, full twenty thousand strong,
Till Britain's foes are vanquished, and in silence lie the guns,
Will Britain's daughters serve the cause so dear to Britain's sons.
For our Country and our King, we are ready to command,
We are soldiers, one and all, we would have you understand.
And whatever unknown hardships mark the way that lies before,
We will render loyal service in the Women's Army Corps.
Our weapons are not war-like, but our duties must be done,
And every working daughter frees another fighting son.
If our efforts flag or falter, or our ranks in strength decline,
We are not worthy comrades of the lads who hold the line.
For our Country and our King, who have put us to the test,
Let us all united stand, and give proudly of our best.
And whatever unknown hardships mark the way that lies before,
We will render loyal service in the Women's Army Corps.
Notes from the Family
Isa scribbled a few notes on her copy of this poem. They read as follows:
Prize poem- I bought a Waterman with the prize which is all I remember about it.
St. Andrews—1916
Given this, it’s clear that Isa wrote this at the Scottish Command School of Musketry in St. Andrew’s while part of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. This wasn’t included in her published volume, Ripples in the Ranks of the Q.M.A.A.C., which focused entirely on her experiences in the First World War. Additionally, we’re unable to identify where the prize money came from or where it was published.
We assume ‘Waterman’ refers to the brand of luxury fountain pens.