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From the Archives - "The Dumfries Volunteers"
With the French Republic threatening an invasion, in 1794 Britain initiated a major military build-up, with an expansion of the militia and the formation of volunteer defense forces.
In Scotland, a regiment of volunteers was raised in Dumfries on January 31, 1795. Shortly designated the Royal Dumfries Volunteers, among those who joined was the town's most noted resident, Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, who later wrote a song for the regiment, which was published by the Dumfries Weekly Journal in April.
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The Dumfries Volunteers
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Does haughty Gaul invasion threat?
Then let the louns beware, Sir;
There's wooden walls upon our seas,
And volunteers on shore, Sir:
The Nith shall run to Corsincon,
And Criffel sink in Solway,
Ere we permit a Foreign Foe
On British ground to rally!
We'll ne'er permit a Foreign Foe
On British ground to rally!
O let us not, like snarling curs,
In wrangling be divided,
Till, slap! come in an unco loun,
And wi' a rung decide it!
Be Britain still to Britain true,
Amang ourselves united;
For never but by British hands
Maun British wrangs be righted!
No! never but by British hands
Shall British wrangs be righted!
The Kettle o' the Kirk and State,
Perhaps a clout may fail in't;
But deil a foreign tinkler loun
Shall ever ca'a nail in't.
Our father's blude the Kettle bought,
And wha wad dare to spoil it;
By Heav'ns! the sacrilegious dog
Shall fuel be to boil it!
By Heav'ns! the sacrilegious dog
Shall fuel be to boil it!
The wretch that would a tyrant own,
And the wretch, his true-born brother,
Who would set the Mob aboon the Throne,
May they be damn'd together!
Who will not sing "God save the King,"
Shall hang as high's the steeple;
But while we sing "God save the King,"
We'll ne'er forget The People!
But while we sing "God save the King,"
We'll ne'er forget The People!
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Burns served with the Royal Dumfries Volunteers as a private in the 2nd Company. By all accounts, a good volunteer, he served without pay and provided much of his own kit, while attending drill twice a week. Burns only served 18 months, for on July 21, 1796, he died, at 37, probably the victim of a weak heart and high living. On July 25th Burns was escorted to his funeral by his regiment and elements of two others, with his uniform hat and sword on his coffin, which was borne by pall bearers drawn from his comrades.
Sometimes known by it's opening line, "Does haughty Gaul invasion threat?", the dialect piece had some popularity during the French Wars, but later passed into obscurity.
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