Cadet caned after parading for Field Marshal Montgomery

 

Cadet caned after Monty’s parade

IT was a thrilling day for 14-year-old Tony Hope when he learned that he was to be one of the Army Cadet Force guard of honour for Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery.

But his joy turned to disappointment, for he could not get leave of absence from school.

Tony thought it out carefully – then decided he must be on parade when Monty visited Durham. So he played truant.

Next day he paid the penalty. He was caned in front of his classmates at Shiney Row County Boys’ School, near Houghton-le-Spring.

IT SMARTED

Tony said yesterday [18 January 1953] “The caning smarted a bit, but when I thought of the great honour of being a guard for such a famous soldier it did not hurt anymore.”

Mr. A. Dickinson, the headmaster, said: “The boy was punished for being absent without reasonable excuse. He had made no request to me for leave.

“If he had, I would have approached the divisional education officer. When it was reported to me that Hope had gone to the parade without permission I told his teacher to deal with the matter.”

Mr. Dickinson, who had a commission in World War 1 and was a Home Guard major in the last war, went on: “I would be the last person to wish to do anything that could be interpreted as a slur on such a distinguished soldier.”

A senior officer of the Durham Light Infantry Cadet Regiment said: “I am rather shocked to hear that the boy was caned. But his reaction to the punishment seems to indicate an excellent spirit.”

Colonel A. Stoner, a schoolmaster and commanding officer of the battalion of which Tony has been a member for about 10 months, said: “Th evening before the parade the boys were told by the adjutant that the education committee had declined to grant them leave of absence.”

As published in the Daily Herald (UK), 19 January 1953.

Picture credit (of Montgomery): Unknown.

FOOTNOTE

“Keep the cane,”

says Montgomery

FIELD MARSHAL Viscount Montgomery told teachers in New York that caning in schools was the best way of cutting down the flow of hooligans and criminals into the world. He added: “I was well beaten myself – and I’m better for it.”

(Manchester Evening News (UK), 24 November 1954).

Traditional School Discipline

Traditionalschooldiscipline@gmail.com