An Old Devonport Poem

Believed written in the 1930's, if you know the author's name could you let me know? .

Notes:
* A copy of this old poem can be seen on the wall of The Magnet public house in Albany Street. The Magnet was once called The Boot Inn (and Albany Street was once Boot Lane). For many years the landlady of The Boot was commonly called 'Ma Boot' and is referenced in the poem as good old Mother.
* Jago's Mansion was a pre-WWII nickname for Drake Barracks, fondly named after one of the Warrant Officers. A good run ashore for sailors was a pint in every public house that stood alongside the dockyard wall, which in pre-war Devonport was plenty.
* The Free State was once a nickname of The Fleet Club.

Come! Gallant men of Devonport, your duty will not wait
On tiddley suits and shore-going boots, and muster nigh the gate!
Leave out your starboard fenders, and half head one and all,
To South, to North, we’ll sally forth, along the Dockyard Wall.

We’ll start from Jago’s Mansions, men, before we go beserk,
Where deep inside the stanchions hide, and D7R men lurk!
But the “Duty Watch” is calling, so fall in short and tall,
We’ll sink a quart afore we start, along the Dockyard Wall.

But up the hill we sail me lads, and down to Albert Gate,
For Plymouth Ales, the “Prince of Wales”, by now we’re feeling great.
Heigh ho! The good old “keppels”, a certain port ‘o call,
To feast and dine on apple wine, outside the Dockyard Wall.

Now tread your measures softly lads, and shed a beery tear,
as you guide your feet through Williams Street, for the pubs of yesteryear.
“Spare Boiler”, “Standard”, “Morice Town Vaults”, and those beyond recall
They stood the test in line abreast, beside the Dockyard Wall.

Across the Ferry Road, me boys, to Devonport Park we steam,
Where tall and straight, the Gunwharf Gate, is on our starboard beam,
A noggin in the “Marlborough”, and as we onward crawl,
We spy once more the “Fleet Club” door, beside the Dockyard Wall.

Oh! Open up those portals wide, the “Free State” on the hill,
Beneath whose eyes the Tamar lies, and Torpoint calm and still,
Where first Dogwatchmen muster, upon the eight bell call,
To take good cheer, with wine and beer, beside the Dockyard Wall.

But forward men through Morice Square, the “Lord Hood” stands upright,
The “Cambridge Arms”, the “Standards” charms, then downhill thro’ the night,
“Swans Inn”, “Steam Packet”, brothers, and that’s North Corners haul,
A pint in each, and then we reach the end of North Yard Wall.

Yet fear not lads, the South Yard Wall, is looming up once more,
It upward glides, then swerves and slides, around the “Boots Inn’s” door,
Three Cheers! For good old Mother, the doyenne of ‘em all,
Who’s always been the Devonport Queen and Mistress of the Wall.

But Devonport Market clock has chimed, the hour is growing late,
The “Ark Royal’s” bar is not too far, beyond the Fore Street Gate,
The “Brown Bear”, “Chapel”, “Beresford”, are all good ports o’ call,
Still have no fear and sup your beer, there’s more beside the Wall.

The “Bristol Castle”, “Queen & Connie”, the “New Pier” round the bend,
Then on we rode to Mutton Cove, our journey at an end,
And there’s King Billy’s statue, and so lads, one and all,
To South, to North, we’ve journeyed forth -Three cheers for the Dockyard Wall!
Can Pompey do us better???

(page added 9 December 2011)