"The Quartermaster's Store" is a traditional song from England. It isRoud Folk Song Index no. 10508.^[1] The origins of both tune and words are uncertain. It was sung byBritish andANZAC soldiers during World War I,^[2][3][4] but may be an older song of the prewar British regular army,^[3] or even have origins dating back to theEnglish Civil War in the 17th century.^[4] In those World War I armies, thequartermaster's department was responsible for stores and supplies. The song lists its supposed characteristics, many of them slovenly or unhygienic. The song was known in the United States by the 1930s; it was sung by theLincoln Battalion, a unit of American volunteers who fought on therepublican side in theSpanish Civil War (1936-39).^[5] During World War II, the song was popular in theRAF as well as the Army.^[6][7][8] The song is also known as "The Quartermaster Corps" or "The Quartermaster's Corps".

The song has gained wide popularity outside the military sphere, particularly as acampfire song in theScouting andGuiding movements.^{[4][9][10][11]} TheBarmy Army, supporters of the England cricket team, have been known to sing about England international cricketersStuart Broad and his fatherChris to the tune of "The Quartermaster's Store".^[12]

As is common in oral tradition, the words vary widely; and it being alist song, there have been many verses. The military versions are often earthier than those intended for children or teenagers. Two typical military verses are:^[13]

There were rats, rats, big asbloody cats,
In the store, in the store.
There were rats, rats, big as bloody cats,
In the Quartermaster's store.

[Chorus:] My eyes are dim, I cannot see,
I have not brought myspecs with me,
I have not brought my specs with me.

There was beer, beer, to bring us all good cheer,
In the store, in the store.
There was beer, beer, to bring us all good cheer,
In the Quartermaster's store.

Other popular lines include:

There were snakes, snakes, snakes, as long as garden rakes

There were chips, chips, as big as battleships

and

There was gravy, gravy, enough to float the Navy

The song has been recorded several times:

• c. 1939 – Murgatroyd and Winterbottom (Tommy Handley andRonald Frankau), British comedians, as anovelty song^[14]
• 1940s – Pete Seeger, American folksinger^[5]
• 1959? – Les Cleveland and the D-Day Dodgers, New Zealand^[15][16]
• 1960 – The Shadows, British instrumental band, as theB-side of the No. 1 single "Apache";ColumbiaDB4484^[17]
• 1964 – Burl Ives, American singer, on the albumScouting Along with Burl Ives
• 1979 – Raffi, Canadian singer-lyricist, on the albumThe Corner Grocery Store, as "The Corner Grocery Store"
• 1985 – The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, as an item in amusical medley^[18]
• Other recordings have been made^[4]

• British songs
• Songs of World War I
• British satirical songs
• List songs
• English children's songs

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from June 2020
• Use British English from June 2020
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