An old sailor’s reminiscences of his training days in 1942 contain a fascinating anecdote- and one of those in which my imagination can readily substitute the idea of female trainees.
The group had feasted on apples from a nearby orchard. The Captain was stern at the following morning’s parade:
“A number of the local farmers have approached me and suggested that a number of boys from this ship have stolen fruit from their orchards. I have assured these gentlemen that no boy from this ship’s company would do such a thing. However, if any one of you had anything to do with this, let that person take one pace forward.”
The whole ship’s company took one pace forward. He looked at us with a wooden expression and said, “I suppose you think that I cannot punish you all. Well, you are mistaken. I can, and I WILL.”
We lined up by division and one by one went into the captains office. All of the officers were there to take turns to punish us. There were two posts attached to the floor and between them a brass rail. The miscreant had to bend over and grasp the rail with both hands.
Some officers would tap your backside lightly to make sure that no newspapers or other means of avoiding punishment were present. Then with a long birch stick they would deliver the first blow. At the instant of the first stroke your backside went numb but as the pain shot through the body down came the next stroke. When you had received six an officer would yell out, “Next”.
Time to purchase a couple of naval uniforms…
Wouldn’t it be nice to play a scene like this on an actual boat? We could start our own cruise, I suppose. Hands up everyone who wants to come!