Brave Mole's Carol

The White Horse and The Dragon
Were fighting for the Fort
Gallant Mole came galloping—
My! How he fought!
Digging Mole and drawing Mole
Brandishing his pen,
Over the Downs to Uffington,
Back to Surrey again!
The Dragon in his Ministry
Filled-up fifty forms—
An Inspector may inspect a bit
But doesn't look for storms.
'Passed to O'N—l'
'Referred to Mr D—ng.
But the White Horse was wily
The Mole was too cunning.
Once around the ramparts
Twice down the ditch—
Mole, Horse and Dragon
You couldn't tell which.
Hurrah for the Horse!
And three cheers for Mole!
From the Tropic of Capricorn
Up to the Pole!
Down with all Dragons
On Christmas Day
They're losing—they've lost it!!
So hip

hip

hurray!

from

Stuart

early 1950s?

MS on a postcard from 7 Gloucester Place, Edinburgh, held in the Brian Hope-Taylor Archive © Historic Environment Scotland HT/93/1

Many thanks to author and archaeologist Roger Miket for sending this poem ('gently suggested by Ian Ralston'). The poem from SP was posted to BH-T when the former was still living in his flat in Gloucester Place. Roger also kindly previewed Hope-Taylor's wood engraving from one of his postcards, to appear in RM's forthcoming book. It charmingly illustrates the poem, using the Uffington White Horse, The Cap and Dragon Hill, pen-wielding Mole astride. Roger also identifies 'O'N—l' as Bryan Hugh St John O'Neil (1905-1954) Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments and 'Mr D—ng' as Gerald Clough Dunning (1905-1978) Inspector of Ancient Monuments