I School Caning
Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. This is from a recent biography of Clement Attlee, British Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951:
"Attlee joined his fellow schoolboys in a protest against the headmaster for his failure to grant a public holiday in celebration of the victory [at Ladysmith in the Boer War]. They marched down to the neighbouring market town of Hertford and "indulged in a patriotic celebration". Clement was one of the SEVENTY-TWO [my emphasis] caned that evening."
"Attlee joined his fellow schoolboys in a protest against the headmaster for his failure to grant a public holiday in celebration of the victory [at Ladysmith in the Boer War]. They marched down to the neighbouring market town of Hertford and "indulged in a patriotic celebration". Clement was one of the SEVENTY-TWO [my emphasis] caned that evening."
