Listen to the track:
Drill at Knighton
The Western Morning News of 2 June 1904 reported that, during Plymouth Fortress mobilisation exercises on 1 June 1904, a mock enemy force was supposed to have landed in fog near the mouth of the river and moved into the Wembury area. In the exercise, the attackers occupied Wembury House and Knighton, while outposts at Down Thomas were said to have been driven back. Reinforcements were then sent in through Elburton and Staddiscombe, with heavy guns positioned to command the ground around Knighton and Wembury House. Bad weather altered the landing arrangements, but the report shows clearly that Wembury was treated as an important eastern approach in Plymouth’s coastal defence planning.
Attribution: Western Morning News, 2 June 1904, reporting on Plymouth Fortress mobilisation exercises held on 1 June 1904.
Verse 1
On thirty first of May, my lads
A fog lay on the shore
By Wembury and the river mouth
Troops came to drill for war
Through Knighton lane and Wembury House
The word was carried bright
This was no battle fought in truth
But exercise that night
Chorus
Then step away for Knighton lads
And mark the warning plain
At Down Thomas the outposts stood
In wind and driving rain
From Elburton to Staddiscombe
The warning came that night
For Plymouth’s walls must still be kept
On exercise that night
Verse 2
The weather turned the landing back
So ashore they came instead
They marched through mud to Knighton lane
As all the orders spread
The Devon men came in by rail
With orders clear and smart
To join the eastern section there
And play their proper part
Verse 3
The guns were hauled through sodden fields
And faced the rising ground
By Knighton and by Wembury House
Their stations soon were found
The traces may be faint today
The ground keeps counsel still
But once these lanes round Knighton way
Were used in soldier drill
Final Chorus
Then step away for Knighton lads
And mark the warning plain
At Down Thomas the outposts stood
In wind and driving rain
From Elburton to Staddiscombe
The warning came that night
For Plymouth’s walls must still be kept
On exercise that night