17th century
UK/Schools - May 1648
Then and Now
Undergraduate whipped at Cambridge college
UK/Judicial - May/June 1685
[No headline]
Reports of public whippings in London
18th century
UK/Domestic - October 1795
Right of a master to give corporal punishment to his servant
Court holds that severe caning of 'obstinate' servant boy was legal
1800-1849
UK/Schools - October 1801
An insurrection manifested itself ...
Boys in rebellion at Westminster School
UK/Judicial - March 1817
Last Friday a woman ... was flogged through the streets of Inverness ...
Report of one of the last female JCP cases in Scotland
To the Editor of the Inverness Journal.
Letterwriter supports abolition of the public flagellation of females
UK/Schools - April 1817
To the Editor of the Inverness Journal.
"Big kilted fellows of 17 or 18" are hoisted on janitor's back to be flogged at the Academy - but what if the janitor is a good-looking young woman?
UK/Judicial - June 1817
Whipping of women.
Move in Parliament to abolish the public whipping of women
UK/Judicial - September 1822
An Account of the Public Flogging
Man whipped at the cart's tail through the streets of Glasgow
UK/Judicial - December 1822
Surrey Sessions
Whipping of females
Girl thief sentenced to whipping; reader points out that this sentence is illegal
UK/Judicial - June 1829
Yesterday morning, at 11 o'clock, ...
Man is publicly whipped for theft in London
UK/Judicial - March 1831
On Friday morning Samuel Creedy and William Harriman were publicly whipped ...
Report of whipping sentence in London
1850-1899
UK/Judicial - January 1851
The visiting justices of the House of Correction ...
Discussion about prison surgeon to supervise juvenile whippings
UK/Judicial - March 1856
Assaults on women and children
Bill moved in Parliament to increase whipping powers; editorial comment
UK/Judicial - October 1866
Flogging garotters
Three robbers punished in jail; official corrects press report
UK/Judicial - January 1867
Flogging garotters in Leeds Gaol
Description of punishment of two robbers
UK/Judicial - March 1869
Flogging Highwaymen.
First adult JCP in Newcastle prison is described
UK/Judicial - November 1871
Equitable Retaliation.
Eyewitness account of flogging with cat-o'-nine-tails
UK/Judicial - April 1872
Royal Offences - Treason
Very early case in which birch is specifically stipulated -- 20 strokes for 18-year-old who pointed a gun at the Queen
UK/Judicial - April 1878
Flogging in Newgate
Description of punishment of five youths for robbery with violence
UK/Judicial - April 1883
Ignominious punishment for young gentleman
Six stripes with a birch-rod for stabbing
UK/Judicial - July 1884
[Editorial]: There is more than one point deserving notice ...
Magistrates call for powers to birch 14- to 16-year-olds
UK/Judicial - March 1886
Boys awarded the birch.
Five lads punished for breaking, entering and stealing
UK/Judicial - April 1886
The Birch for Naughty Boys
Three "respectable-looking" young robbers sentenced to birching; punishment inflicted forthwith
UK/Judicial - May 1886
Criminal assaults.
Boy, 14, gets 15 strokes of the birch
Naughty boys.
Second court birchings for two young thieves
The Criminal Law Amendment Act.
Judge calls for flogging for those who abuse children
UK/Schools - July 1886
Unlimited Stick
London's "Only head teachers may cane" rule is under attack
UK/Judicial - October 1886
The Application of the Birch
Court orders nine strokes for thief aged 13
UK/Judicial - December 1886
Singular Conduct of a Boy.
Breaking-and-entering saga ends with 12 strokes of the birch for boy, 12
UK/Judicial - May 1887
Miscellaneous charges at the Clerkenwell police-court.
Boy, 10, birched for stealing fowls
Robbery by an errand boy.
13-year-old culprit is ordered six strokes with a birch rod
Miscellaneous charges at the Clerkenwell Police-Court
Six-stroke birching for boy, 13, who stole balls from shop
UK/Reformatories - July 1889
Birching a Disobedient Boy.
12 strokes for "ringleader of all the mischief" in an institution
UK/Schools - October 1891
Flogging in English Schools.
Anecdotal overview of cane and birch at private schools, esp. Eton
UK/Navy - May 1893
Birches for Midshipmen
Cadets on flagship visiting New York have probably all received CP
UK/Schools - March 1894
Police
"Nature provides special place for boys to be punished on and it should be used", says judge as he fines out-of-control teacher for assault
UK/Navy - May 1897
Life on board a training ship.
"There is caning done on board, one or two every week ..."
UK/Judicial - July 1897
Anglesey.
Twelve strokes of the birch for robber, 15
Highway Robbery by Boys at Preston.
Two boys, 11 and 12, birched by court for stealing
A Youthful Thief at Ormskirk.
11-year-old who stole watch receives four strokes of the birch
A Youthful Housebreaker at Garston.
12 strokes for boy robber, 12, who had already been birched before
Watch-snatching in Liverpool.
Robbery with violence brings 18 strokes of the birch for 21-year-old
The birch for robbery with violence.
Judge orders 24 strokes and 18 strokes for two twentysomethings
UK/Navy - October 1897
Roundabout Notes.
24 strokes of the birch each, plus imprisonment then dismissal from the Service, for two boys on ships in the home ports
UK/Navy - May 1899
Deserters Get the Lash.
Two British sailors off Canada, aged 18 and 19, are sentenced to birchings of 12 and 24 strokes respectively
1900s
UK/Judicial - March 1900
Youthful Offenders Bill.
House of Lords wants magistrates' birching powers extended in England and Wales
Corporal Punishment.
Report gives flogging statistics for England & Wales
UK/Judicial - April 1900
Youthful Offenders
Corporal Punishment
Parliament debates extension of courts' whipping powers
UK/Schools - April 1900
National Union of Teachers.
"Steady decrease" in CP is claimed, but union says it cannot be banished
UK/Navy - May 1900
General News.
Two boys of HMS Goliath birched and imprisoned for leave-breaking and striking the Captain
UK/Schools - December 1900
The law and the cane.
Court throws out case against teacher for caning boy
UK/Prisons - January 1901
Corporal punishment in gaol.
Birmingham Justices want to be able to flog prisoners without Home Secretary's approval
UK/Judicial - November 1901
Central Criminal Court.
18 strokes of the birch for two robbers aged 20 and 31
UK/Schools - November 1901
London School Board.
Attempt to outlaw CP in infant schools is rejected
UK/Military - May 1902
Birching in the Army.
Grenadier Guards boy illicitly birched for smoking and absence without leave
UK/Domestic - August 1902
Art of caning.
"Give him a good caning", magistrate tells father of boy, 13
UK/Military - February 1903
British Guards Scandal
Subalterns compelled to submit to severe floggings
Grenadier Guards Scandal
More on illicit army floggings
UK/Schools - May 1903
Chastising schoolboys.
A Board School's caning headmaster is exonerated by magistrate
UK/Schools - July 1903
City Education Committee.
Worcester decides to restrict caning to head teachers
UK/Navy - August 1903
The Naval Manoeuvres: Work, Play, and Punishment.
Very rare contemporary eyewitness account of canings of junior seamen
UK/Schools - August 1903
"Impositions". To the Editor of the "Daily Mail".
Caning on the hands a most dangerous habit, says headmaster; if used it should be applied to same part of the body as the birch
UK/Navy - June 1904
Corporal Punishment In The Navy.
An insider discusses the caning, birching and flogging of sailors
UK/Judicial - August 1904
Corporal punishment.
Report to Parliament on whipping statistics
UK/Schools - March 1905
Use of the cane.
New school caning rules in Leeds
UK/Navy - May 1905
"Ragging" in H.M.S. Kent.
Allegation of canings among midshipmen are raised in Parliament
UK/Navy - September 1905
Naval Courts-Martial, 1904.
Statistics reported: six boys birched by court-martial and 200 summarily
UK/Schools - October 1905
Birching at Eton.
Disagreement between Old Etonians as to the propriety of elite school's traditional punishment
UK/Schools - January 1907
Manchester Teachers and Corporal Punishment
Teachers object to replacement of cane with tawse
UK/Schools - March 1907
Corporal Punishment. Statement Issued by Mr. Paton
Grammar school headmaster defends his use of the birch
UK/Schools - November 1907
Use of the School Cane. A Principal Exonerated.
He gave two boys six strokes of the cane each; lawsuit against him fails
At Eton Mystery.
Famous birching block reported stolen
UK/Schools - April 1908
Schoolboy's cigarette.
Grammar school headmaster offers smoker choice of caning or expulsion
UK/Judicial - September 1908
Boy Chapel-Breakers.
13-year-old is ordered to receive 12 strokes of the birch
1910s
UK/Schools - February 1910
Caning in Public Schools.
Judge upholds school in declining to accept boys whose mother will not have them caned
UK/Judicial - April 1910
Boy's Severe Sentence.
Birching plus reformatory for stealing a piece of coal
UK/Schools - June 1910
Caning at Eton. Excessive punishment by older boys.
Headmaster issues new rules following revelation of "gross cruelty"
Caning at Eton. To the Editor
"Etonian" says public is given a false impression: CP system at Eton is "excellent"
UK/Schools - May 1911
Eton's Innovation. The Birch Abolished.
Birching rejected in favour of caning at England's top boys' school [but N.B. it was soon restored]
UK/Judicial - July 1911
The Cat for Despicable Bullies.
34 strokes each for two violent robbers
UK/Judicial - September 1911
Birch for the Boys
Two 12-year olds get six strokes each after "extraordinary story" of evening out with pony and cart
UK/Schools - January 1912
Equality at Eton.
Boys prefer caning to writing lines; birching still done "in extreme cases"
UK/Schools - April 1914
Teachers' Right to Cane.
National Union of Teachers conference demands caning rights for all teachers irrespective of local regulations
UK/Schools - March 1915
Caning in Public School. Assault Charge Dismissed.
Boy, 16, put on two pairs of trousers for headmaster's punishment
Caning in Public School.
Newspaper prints correction to above report -- caned boy suffered no ill effects, made no complaint
UK/Judicial - August 1917
Bad Boys Birched
Runaway 13-year-olds receive JCP for theft
UK/Judicial - August 1918
Rod and Gum
Four lads birched for stealing
UK/Schools - May 1919
A Schoolgirl's Caning.
Headmistress fined after punishment deemed excessive
1920s
UK/Judicial - April 1920
Johnstone Boys and a Humane Killer: 80 Shots Fired
Scottish court orders 10 stripes of the birch for youth
UK/Schools - June 1920
A School Girl's Caning.
Complaint over discipline in Canterbury
UK/Schools - March 1921
To Cane Or Not?
Headmasters of different kinds of schools give divergent views
UK/Judicial - December 1922
Wild scenes as men are doomed to be flogged
Eleven robbers sentenced to "cat" and one 16-year-old to 20 strokes of the birch
UK/Judicial - January 1923
Recorder On The Punishment Of Flogging.
Crimes of violence sharply reduced because of whipping sentences, says judge
UK/Judicial - November 1925
Robbery With Violence.
24 strokes of the birch for robber, 19
UK/Judicial - February 1926
Birch For Attempted Robbery
Boy, 16, gets 16 strokes for trying to hold up shop women
UK/Schools - September 1927
A good healthy caning. Mr. Bingley was right.
Rough and ready methods often the best, asserts columnist
UK/Schools - August 1928
Caned boy's summons. Prefect's defence.
15-year-old grammar-school prefect caned 10-year-old for skipping cricket match
UK/Schools - January 1929
Boy who smoked. Schoolroom sequel. Bench & deserved punishment.
Caning of student is described in court
UK/Schools - April 1929
Master's right to cane. Smoking case again in court. Judge and "Taking it like a man."
The right to cane. Judges uphold headmaster. Father permitted boy to smoke.
Court decides CP for out-of-school offences is lawful
The Right to Cane.
Newspaper editorial welcomes court decision
UK/Judicial - June 1929
Armed Burglars At Bayswater. Two Young Men Sentenced.
Court orders jail plus 30 strokes of the birch for 19-year-old
UK/Judicial - September 1929
Youth's assault in shop: Imprisonment and birch
19-year-old gets 12 strokes for "brutal" robbery
1930s
UK/Reformatories - March 1930
Power to Cane Boys in Borstal Institution.
Northern Ireland Parliament introduces reformatory CP for older teens
UK/Judicial - October 1930
Station Hold-Up: Armed Bandits Sentenced
Birch order for two young brothers
UK/Illicit - December 1930
The cane for boys in a racing stable.
Racing stable secrets.
Stable secrets.
Murky goings-on in the horse-racing world reveal en passant that CP was used on young apprentices
UK/Judicial - December 1930
Birch for ruffian.
Robber, 21, former Borstal boy, sentenced by London court to receive 15 strokes
UK/Judicial - October 1931
Birch and Gaol for Bank Bandit
Bank robber, 24, given 18 strokes and 8 months
UK/Judicial - November 1931
Recorder and Undisciplined Youth
Two teen robbers get heavy birching sentences
Woman Robbed At Leatherhead
The birch is ordered for four twentysomethings
UK/Judicial - January 1932
Prison and the Birch
Two young gangsters get heavy birching sentences for robbery with violence
UK/Judicial - March 1932
Robbery With Violence. Young Men Sentenced.
Jail plus 15 strokes of the birch each for two aged 18 and 26
UK/Judicial - June 1932
Armed Youth Chased By Schoolmaster
Court sentences boy, 16, to 18 strokes with the birch
Youths ordered prison and the birch
18- and 24-stroke birchings for robbery with violence
UK/Judicial - September 1932
Young Men's Crimes: Recorder On Robbery With Violence
15 strokes of the birch and 9 months' jail for accomplice, 19
UK/Judicial - November 1932
Shooting gallery incident. Sentence for theft of firearms
29-year-old robber gets 18 strokes of the birch and 18 months in prison
Armed robbers sentenced. Brave woman rewarded by Recorder.
Three gangsters arraigned, all aged 26: one gets the "cat", two are birched
UK/Judicial - April 1933
Garage proprietor robbed
18 strokes of the birch each for four gangsters
Robbery at estate office
Two aged 25 get 15 strokes of the birch each
UK/Judicial - June 1933
Birching of Young Offenders
Two 12-year-olds get two lots of six strokes each
UK/Schools - November 1933
Schoolboy flogging charge fails (illustrated)
Headmaster, pictured, cleared of assault after giving 9-year-old, pictured with his mother, a pants-down caning at London prep school
UK/Judicial - January 1934
Bandit to be Birched
Prison plus 15 strokes for 21-year-old robber
UK/Schools - February 1934
Nearly 100 Schoolboys Caned. Council May Order An Inquiry
Mass punishment of students at secondary school near London
UK/Schools - April 1934
Wanted: a Birch Rod
Exhibition on childhood cannot find a birch
UK/Judicial - July 1934
"Cat" for two "brutes"
Armed robbers ordered to be flogged
UK/Schools - December 1934
Corporal Punishment: A Plea for the Exemption of Girls
A Doctor Writes ...
UK/Schools - January 1935
Corporal Punishment for Girls
Further correspondence in doctors' magazine
UK/Schools - February 1935
The Caning of Girls
Government refuses to intervene to ban it
UK/Judicial - January 1936
Leicester Recorder Orders Boy To Be Birched
Ethics of Birching
Is Birching for Boys Out of Date?
Recorder Replies To Critics of Birching
Is the Birch The Cure For Young Offenders?
Spare The Rod?
Not Afraid of Birch, says Sentenced Lad
Misapplied Leniency
Leicester Call For Inquiry Into Birching Sentence On Boy Of 15
Birched At 13
Leicester M.P. And Birching Sentence
Chief Constable Requested to Suspend Carrying Out of Sentence
"Cruel for Boy of 15": Police Do Not Possess a Birch
Mother's Joy At Remission Of Birching Sentence On Leicester Boy
Government caves in to immense fuss over birching sentence on 15-year-old
UK/Schools - April 1936
Boys Laugh, When Caned by Women, to 'Keep Their Dignity'
They need male teachers from age eight, says speaker at schoolmasters' conference
UK/Navy - November 1936
Boy In Tears at Portland Court-Martial
Boy disillusioned
Two youths get 12 strokes each in last-ever naval birchings
UK/Judicial - February 1937
Four young scamps: Remarkable Police Court charge
Thieves' ringleader given six strokes of the birch
Magistrate Invites Boys to Tea After Seeing Them Birched
Three "bad boys" ordered to be "birched hard"
Promise and performance: birch for young scamps
Six strokes each for two more of gang
UK/Judicial - April 1937
Birching Officer Told 'Take More Care'
"Error of judgment" after policeman stands too close while birching boy
Let Beatings Begin at Home, Says an M.P. Who Has Had His Own
Politician 'not sympathetic' to calls to abolish the birch
Bench order the Birch for Nine Boys: Stole Property of a Blind Man
All sentenced to 3 strokes for "very dirty trick"
Birch for boys: Doncaster Magistrates Criticised
Birching only thing "pit village riff-raff" understand, avers leader-writer
Boys Ordered to be Birched
Same bench orders CP for another six young thieves
MP Says Caning In His Youth Did Him Good
Politician supports birch for young delinquents
UK/Schools - April 1937
Boy caning case
Teacher wins appeal against assault conviction after caning 10-year-old on his pants
UK/Judicial - May 1937
M.P. Wants Women in Flogging Inquiry
Chairman of committee on JCP is appointed
UK/Schools - May 1937
Headmaster Says Corporal Punishment is Best
12-year-old "needs jolly good hiding"
UK/Schools - June 1937
Headmaster wins caning appeal
Court upholds school in giving boy, 13, "four on the seat"
UK/Military - 1937
For corporal punishment
43 years on, letter-writer recalls RAF Wireless School birching
UK/Judicial - February 1938
Birch and prison for three men
Twentysomethings get 10 strokes each for robbery with violence
UK/Schools - May 1938
Damages for "Will Hay" Schoolboy (illustrated)
Eleven-year-old, pictured, flicked pellets at master; resulting caning "somewhat exceeded what was proper", says judge
UK/Schools - December 1938
Boy being caned says 'Hurry up!'
13-year-old's court case against schoolmaster is dismissed
UK/Schools - January 1939
Rail Thrill 'Worth Cane'
Two schoolboys, 13, given four strokes each after train truant escapade
UK/Domestic - March 1939
Girl should be spanked, says judge
His answer to child of 12 wanting a permanent wave
UK/Domestic - October 1939
Girl in Slacks Caned
Mother says she gave 19-year-old "a dozen strokes across the tightest part"
1940s
UK/Judicial - November 1943
Birching Doesn't Appeal to Him -- Not Harsh Enough
Boys find birching not as bad as they thought it would be, says Scottish police chief
The Birched Boys (illustrated)
Sentence carried out before parents had chance to appeal; one birched boy is pictured with his parents
The Hereford Inquiry
The Hereford Case
Official report on Juvenile Court birching screw-up
Soldier to be Birched
12 strokes and 12 months after robbery by "utter blackguard", 19
UK/Judicial - December 1943
The strange case of Hereford's birching (illustrated)
Another photo of punished boy; policeman who wielded the birch is also pictured
UK/Judicial - March 1945
No Officer to Carry Out Birching Order
Boy, 13, was to have received 12 strokes for playing with firearms
UK/Schools - October 1945
Punishment of boy: Action against head master fails
8-year-old student slippered on bare bottom at private prep school
UK/Military - July 1946
Had Wingate the right to flog?
Court-martial considers caning of soldiers in Burma
UK/Judicial - October 1946
Robbery under arms
Soldier, 25, gets 8 years' jail plus 20 strokes of the birch
UK/Military - October 1946
Punishment code in the Chindits
Soldiers had agreed to be flogged in Burma campaign; govt will not intervene
UK/Judicial - March 1947
Gave Men Lift -- They Left Him In His Pants
Two army deserters get 12 months in jail and six strokes of the birch each for robbery
UK/Judicial - April 1947
Birch for Boy of 13
Juvenile Court orders four strokes for breaking into churches
Birch for robbers
Stiff birching sentences for four youths, "cat" for another
Labourer who robbed police matron 'deserved birch'
Judge would have ordered birching for 22-year-old had he been fit
UK/Schools - April 1947
His business is simply whacking! (illustrated)
Eric A. Wildman, purveyor of punishment implements, is pictured with canes
UK/Judicial - May 1947
The 'Cat' for London Gunman
Six strokes of cat and 7 years' jail after armed raid on pub
Birch for robbery with violence
21-year-old sentenced to 25 strokes of the birch
UK/Schools - May 1947
Teacher: I loathe the cane
But in the end only the cane works, headmaster tells conference
UK/Domestic - June 1947
A Girl, Aged 19, Is Too Old To Be Whipped -- K.C.
She left home because father beat her
UK/Schools - June 1947
My Cane Stays, Says This Headmaster
Caning "All Wrong", Says Headmistress
He "detests" CP but says it is necessary; but it's absolutely wrong for girls, says his female counterpart
UK/Judicial - July 1947
Woman magistrate who had boys birched starts row
Controversy among Manchester magistrates over JCP
Father of Birched Boys Wants Inquiry
Elder brother has to witness "extremely severe" punishment
UK/Judicial - August 1947
'Birch My Boy' -- Mother
'No, No, No,' says woman magistrate to suggestion of CP for boy who stole from Boys' Brigade
UK/Schools - August 1947
Spanking Story
Interviews with Eric Wildman (pro-CP campaign) and an anti-caning spokeswoman
UK/Judicial - October 1947
Birch, Gaol for Sailor
15 strokes for 23-year-old who attacked elderly woman
UK/Judicial - November 1947
Wide reform of penal code
Govt publishes proposals for abolishing judicial corporal punishment
Sentences for armed robbery
A birching for two young Poles
Second reading
Letters: Judicial powers
Criminal law reform: Progress in treatment of offenders
Parliament debates abolition of JCP
UK/Judicial - December 1947
Whipping as penalty: Amendments to new Bill
Power to order flogging: Abolition approved in Committee
Abolition of birching and flogging agreed, except for serious offences against prison discipline
UK/Judicial - March 1948
Judge orders birch for two youths
12 strokes each for two teens who attacked student
UK/Judicial - July 1948
This Brutal Robbery a Case for Flogging
Judge wonders why CP about to be abolished
UK/Domestic - September 1948
"Spoilt" choirboy gets £9 for cuff on ear
Magistrate advises choirmaster to spank choirboys "on a proper spot"
UK/Illicit - September 1948
Hit Choirboys: Vicar fined £20
Trousers-down spanking was "merely horseplay"
UK/Military - October 1948
'Let Us Cane Boys' (illustrated) (with video clip)
"Half a dozen canings a week" at army apprentice school are defended by commandant, pictured
UK/Schools - November 1948
Five Smarting Girls Sang a Hit Song
Headmistress gives schoolgirls public caning, girls go "on strike"
"Free Expression" School Scene (illustrated)
Pupils Cane Caner (illustrated)
Six strokes with a smoky malacca: Schoolboy canes the cane seller (illustrated)
Eric Wildman visits school to lecture on CP but gets a taste of his own medicine; several different pictures show him on floor surrounded by students
I had planned it all, says the head (illustrated)
"Progressive" school headmaster, pictured with Eric A. Wildman and canes, admits he set trap into which Wildman fell
Six of the Best (illustrated)
An American view of the Wildman debacle; fracas at school is pictured
UK/Schools - December 1948
Letters: Don't Spare the Rod
Support for caning from girl head prefect
Protest at canings
30 grammar-school boys get six of the best
Girl Strikers 'Were Like Amazons'
Aftermath of row over girls' public caning
UK/Judicial - January 1949
The Cat is On the Shelf
Editorial blames "sentimentalist" abolition for crime wave
Birch Bad Boys, says the Vicar
It's the only punishment delinquent youth really fears, he says
UK/Schools - February 1949
Eton's Block & Birch
Visitor is reminded that the punishment involves removal of clothing
UK/Schools - April 1949
Public Schoolboys Vote for Caning and Fagging
69% of students think CP is necessary
1950s
UK/Schools - July 1950
Cane here and sign the book
New CP rules for schoolteachers in Middlesex
UK/Illicit - August 1950
Spanked wife says 'I deserved it'
Husband pleads guilty to assault after "good old-fashioned chastisement"
UK/Schools - January 1951
17 boys caned for seeing Cup tie
Students aged 12 to 14 get two strokes on each hand for bunking off to watch football match
UK/Schools - January 1952
A bad report is the worst punishment but teachers say: Keep the cane (with cartoon)
Report on school punishment by National Foundation for Educational Research
UK/Schools - September 1952
Speak up! (illustrated)
Eric A. Wildman visits America, "canes" stenographer
UK/Judicial - November 1952
'Flog all for violence'
Proposal for new flogging legislation
Meeting votes for flogging
Bring back judicial CP, say 500 petitioners
The Cat & the Birch
An American take on the UK's flogging debate
UK/Schools - November 1952
Public school votes -- 'Stop the cane'
Michael Heseltine and Julian Critchley argue against prefects' whackings at Shrewsbury School debate; Chenevix-Trench opposes the motion
UK/Military - January 1953
'Caning' colonel is reprimanded
CO on clean-up caned his batman
18-year-old soldier ate meals standing up after unofficial punishment
UK/Judicial - January 1953
Bring police up to strength
Archbishop of York is not against birching in principle
Vote on flogging upsets the magistrates
Referendum among JPs on judicial corporal punishment
Flogging bill details today
Private Member's Bill to bring back judicial corporal punishment
UK/Schools - January 1953
Police seize canes in swoop on offices
Police swoop on birching society's HQ: Detectives search leader's home (illustrated)
Eric Wildman, campaigner for corporal punishment, pictured, falls foul of the authorities; picture of police raid in progress
UK/Judicial - February 1953
Birching Bill rejected: Government's view
Punishment for violence
Parliament rejects proposal for return to judicial corporal punishment
UK/Schools - February 1953
Charges under Obscene Publications Act
Cane-retailer Wildman in trouble for Corpun leaflets
UK/Schools - April 1953
Raiders found 3,000 canes
Eric A. Wildman appears in court on obscenity charge
UK/Schools - May 1953
Wildman guilty of obscene libels
£500 fine for obscene libels
Corpun boss Wildman is "a man with a kink", says his own lawyer
UK/Judicial - June 1953
Give us a good hiding
Letter-writers blame juvenile delinquency on insufficient whacking
UK/Domestic - October 1953
Just give 'em a damn good hiding
Would make for less juvenile delinquency, asserts mayor
UK/Schools - October 1953
Obscene books to be destroyed
Further instalment in the Eric Wildman saga
UK/Military - November 1953
R.A.F. caned 2 boys who broke in
Parents Approved Canings, Says CO
Boys caned at RAF camp -- Court told
Two airmen's teenage sons given "six of the best" by an RAF corporal
Corporal punishment at R.A.F. station
Questions in the House over air force canings
UK/Domestic - April 1954
'A policeman knocked ... and saved me'
Maid, 17, had to 'bend over like a schoolboy' for caning from retired major
UK/Judicial - May 1954
'24,000 reasons for a flogging'
Sub-Postmasters defy their Executive and vote for return of judicial corporal punishment
UK/Prisons - June 1954
6 await verdict in gaol
Will Wandsworth prison mutineers be flogged?
UK/Prisons - July 1954
Prison mutiny men get 'cat'
Two flogged in Wandsworth
Prisoner who hit warder is birched
19-year-old receives six strokes
Only the 'CAT' holds back the brutes, writes Fabian of the Yard
Former top cop describes seeing results of cat-o'-nine-tails
UK/Schools - July 1954
'Flog them' man loses his canes
Another police raid on Eric Wildman's premises
Head canes 200 boys
Culprit at secondary modern school wouldn't own up, so headmaster caned them all
Flo won't sack the 'caning' headmaster
Questions in Parliament about mass punishment
UK/Schools - September 1954
Masters are not to cane schoolgirls
New CP rules for Somerset schools
UK/Schools - October 1954
Storm over teacher who 'caned whole class'
Young teacher canes 40 nine-year-olds
UK/Schools - November 1954
A teacher's right to cane all the class
Four strokes each for 37 Sec. Mod. boys, all aged 13, after rowdy culprit fails to own up
'Enraged' teacher beat her class (illustrated)
Case of young schoolmistress, pictured, comes to court
School bairns DON'T like Mr Dick's work (illustrated)
Tawse manufacturer's wife is pictured with some of his products
UK/Schools - January 1955
Teacher was right the day she caned all 3B (illustrated)
Teacher who caned 40 children wins her appeal
"If 'e's naughty, I fetch 'im one round the ear'ole ..."
David Langdon cartoon
UK/Schools - February 1955
The schoolboy attacked his headmaster
14-year-old, about to be caned, turned violent and then fled
Miss Jeffs can't use cane
Young schoolmistress reprimanded but has a new job
UK/Schools - March 1955
Teacher came off worse in a fight for the cane
Father knocked the teacher's teeth out
Man retaliates after son caned
UK/Illicit - August 1955
Girl "spanked" in bus
Bus conductor takes passenger, 19, over his knee
UK/Schools - December 1955
Marks On Caned Boy Shocked Mother
Teacher fined after whacking boy in front of class
UK/Judicial - February 1956
Bring back the birch, say 4 M.P.s
Violent young criminals should be birched, say politicians
UK/Schools - February 1956
He caned a boy - now wins appeal
Teacher was acting within his authority, judge rules
UK/Schools - April 1956
Four caned boys struck north in shame
Ten teen students given 12 strokes each at Derbyshire school
UK/Schools - December 1956
He was the man that held the boy that got the birch
Death of Eton College's "school messenger" who assisted at the birching block
UK/Prisons - September 1957
Prisoner gets the birch
Twelve strokes administered at Durham for attacking prison officers
UK/Schools - March 1958
A Yank at school gets 'six of the best'
Son of Actor Gets Whipped Like the Rest
US star's 18-year-old boy is caned at Oakham School
UK/Schools - April 1958
Prefects swoop on the vodka
30 senior boys caned by prefects for possessing alcohol at Essex private school
UK/Judicial - May 1958
Give erring Teddy Boys a haircut says Old Etonian
Politician calls for "a little less binding over and a little more bending over"
UK/Schools - October 1958
'Romance rioters' are caned
Eight secondary boys receive discipline across seat of their trousers after fight with rival school
UK/Schools - June 1959
Schoolboys punished for freeing rabbits
Two 18-year-olds bend over for the headmaster's cane
Master goes to police as spanked boy pulls out knife
Student, 15, reacts badly to a classroom slippering
UK/Schools - July 1959
Boy, 15, hit headmaster with bottle after "bend-over" order
Student of ancient grammar school is suspended after refusing to be caned
UK/Schools - August 1959
Whacking teacher cleared by court
Magistrates say slippering of boy, 12, was deserved and had been properly administered
UK/Prisons - September 1959
Prisoner birched after attack
10-stroke whipping carried out on 23-year-old who attacked prison warder
UK/Schools - December 1959
Scotch at Harrow
Six of the best for six caught with drink at famous private school
Conviction Against Teacher Quashed
Strapping of girls' buttocks may have been against education authority rules but that did not make it unlawful, court holds
1960s
UK/Schools - February 1960
Boys turn up at school drunk
Two 14-year-olds caned at high school in Yorkshire
UK/Schools - March 1960
School lunch rebels caned
Students aged 16 and 17 receive four strokes of the cane each from headmaster after demonstration against inadequate food
UK/Schools - June 1960
Caned for mixing with the girls
Senior boys punished at mixed grammar school for crossing the white line between the sexes in playing field
UK/Judicial - November 1960
Bid to bring back flogging
Give the birch a 5-year trial, Butler is urged
The day I was whacked -- by Sir Reginald
Unsuccessful parliamentary moves to reintroduce JCP
Try this idea on caning says M.P.
Legislator proposes the cane for violent under-17s
UK/Schools - November 1960
Caning? It's not cricket, say the Russians at Rugby
Bosh, retorts caning headmaster as visitors inspect top school's punishment room
A rebel refuses to do his lines
I-won't-own-up boy sent home
Boys back the caning head
Student, 14, denies he was talking in class, is caned for not doing punishment
UK/Domestic - April 1961
The Cane
Parents who chastise could be jailed, says politician
UK/Judicial - May 1961
Birch them, says the top judge
Lord Chief Justice calls for restoration of judicial CP for young criminals
UK/Illicit - May 1961
Typist spanked by boss (illustrated)
Cornwall girl, 16, pictured, chose bare-bottom smacking over being fired
UK/Schools - June 1961
School saw 6 girls caned
One stroke each on the hand from the headmistress in front of 600 students at Essex secondary school
UK/Schools - July 1961
'Public school types' steal church cash
I gave three students, aged 15, 17 and 18, nine strokes of the cane each, headmaster tells court
Teacher right to cane girl -- Judge
Punished by the headmaster for insolence at Liverpool private school
Public caning is banned
Romford education committee makes new rule after girls were disciplined in front of whole school
Stinks men beat Fifth
Ten fifth-formers receive "six of the best" for swimming-bath prank at grammar school
UK/Schools - September 1961
85 Boys Caned on Strike Day
Mass punishment for fourth-formers who were rowdy and late
UK/Schools - March 1962
Fifty no-cap boys get caning
Cap-feud schoolboys line up for caning No. 2
Uniform rule violations bring two or three strokes for most, but two prefects get six of the best at Peckham Manor
UK/Schools - April 1962
Caning 'outrage' in class 4G
In another mass whacking at Peckham Manor, 15 mid-teens bend over for four strokes each after disorder in class
UK/Prisons - May 1962
Small-boy birching for thug (illustrated)
33-year-old inmate, pictured, receives 15 strokes for violence against prison staff
UK/Schools - July 1962
Kathleen is ready for a caning
Girl, 14, to be punished on return to school after running away
50 boys caned at quiz kings' school
Mass punishment followed prank at North Wales grammar school
Friar Tuck is called in to be caned after Mr. Grundy stops revue at school (illustrated)
18-year-old, pictured, expelled after refusing a caning at Emanuel School in London -- but it was his last day anyway
UK/Illicit - August 1962
School mistress spanked by school manager
23-year-old teacher given "four of the best" in village street in dispute over horseriding
UK/Schools - August 1962
Letters
Letter-writer supporting school CP purports to be caned schoolboy of 16
UK/Schools - October 1962
Lessons over -- So now for a quick drag (illustrated)
Grammar school allows students to smoke in designated room, but if elsewhere they get six strokes of the cane; picture shows fifth-form boys smoking
UK/Military - January 1963
A Legendary Chindit Revisits The Battle Areas of Burma
Wartime unofficial army flogging is recalled
UK/Prisons - March 1963
Dartmoor birch ban attacked
Home Secretary withholds approval for birchings; Prison Officers' Association calls it a "most ill-considered decision"
UK/Domestic - April 1963
I was spanked says peer's wife
Barbara Cartland and her daughter, Lady Lewisham, agree on the value of six of the best
UK/Schools - June 1963
Apologise, head tells a father
Complaint about headmaster's wish to cane 13-year-old
UK/Illicit - July 1963
One Tory gives another 'six of the best' (illustrated)
Party agent hit youth
18-year-old, pictured, punished on bare bottom with fly-swat
UK/Schools - March 1964
'Flog on!' say the boys at Eton
Majority in survey want CP arrangements preserved
Search for Wellington schoolboy
16-year-old recently beaten for smoking
UK/Judicial - July 1964
Penalties for Young Offenders
Lawyer questions basis for rejecting reintroduction of JCP
UK/Schools - July 1964
Spanking Coeds Cost Headmaster $140 Fine, Costs
Headmaster spanked "kiss and cuddle" girls (illustrated)
Head who spanked girls is fined (illustrated)
Ex-Helston headmaster and suspended senior mistress fined for beating girl pupils
Schoolgirls, 17 and 18, whacked on their bare bottoms; headmaster and senior mistress are pictured; American press names the spanked girls
UK/Judicial - August 1964
An Instinct That Shames Us All (section on judicial corporal punishment)
Article strongly condemning corporal punishment for any purpose
UK/Reformatories - August 1964
Head brutally assaulted boy - Court allegation
Approved school absconder, 16, had to count out his eight strokes
UK/Schools - August 1964
An Instinct That Shames Us All (section on school corporal punishment)
Article condemns corporal punishment for any purpose
UK/Schools - October 1964
Cigarette boys are given 'four of the best'
Caning for two 17-year-olds at top private school
UK/Schools - February 1965
Eton Head's Reply On Punishment
Aristocrat, 16, was caned by his house captain "perfectly justly"
Whack! That's for watching Sophia
"Six of the best" for 21 senior boys who watched X-film
UK/Navy - June 1965
'He Beat Ratings with Gym Shoe' -- Court told
Naval officer is dismissed ship
Naval lieutenant, 33, reprimanded for walloping junior ratings' bottoms
UK/Schools - April 1966
Probe into boys' election caning
Two secondary boys caned for having political stickers on their bikes
UK/Judicial - May 1966
Bring back the birch, say Tories
Kirk men attack return of birch plan
Scottish Conservative party votes for JCP but Church of Scotland disagrees
UK/Navy - May 1966
I was spanked, sailor claims
Officer spanked boy: dismissed his ship
Officer took 17-year-old junior seaman over knee, spanked him in front of shipmates
UK/Schools - August 1966
Cleared of assault after caning boy
Headmaster gave three boys two strokes each in front of class
UK/Prisons - November 1966
Maxwell (Birching Award)
Home Secretary explains why he refused to confirm prison birching
UK/Schools - November 1966
Fifteen public school boys vanish on half holiday
Twelve returnees each given "six of the best" by headmaster
UK/Schools - December 1966
Administrative view of the tawse
Tawse questions for teachers
Dispute in Walsall over tawse vs. cane
UK/Schools - February 1967
'Parents will act if tawse is used'
Teachers are trusted to use tawse 'in the right way'
Walsall council decides to keep the tawse as its school CP implement
UK/Navy - April 1967
Storm over canings for navy boys
69 caned in past year: "part of our tradition", says Admiralty
I was caned by the Navy
Letters to editor about caning of junior seamen
UK/Illicit - May 1967
Farmer whips boys who fought his fire
He punished the wrong boys, is fined for assault
UK/Navy - May 1967
Cane is banned for Navy boys
Navy stops boy beatings
No more CP for junior seamen, Minister announces
UK/Reformatories - May 1967
Approved school beatings: The facts
Casebook on the four boys
A sure way to make criminals
Home Office probes approved school canings
Q.C. to probe approved school
The Court Lees affair: Government sets up inquiry into claims of excessive canings
UK/Schools - May 1967
Carry on caning!
Head teachers agree by 498 votes to 2 to keep the cane in schools
UK/Reformatories - August 1967
School to close after caning
'Caning' school is shut by Jenkins
Penalty on school 'too severe'
Unspared rods
Inspectors move in to wind up school
Boys in tears as they leave approved school
Cane school gets 'quick close' order
The Court Lees affair: Caning inquiry reports; government closes school
Court Lees boys seen by solicitors
The Court Lees Affair
Teacher in cane row tells of 'more beatings'
The pride of a boy who took to crime
Court Lees pictures disputed
Puzzle of Court Lees: Why No Public Inquiry?
Court Lees questions by doctor
The Court Lees affair: Controversy rages
UK/Illicit - September 1967
Our Man at St Mark's Whacks 'Em
London church boasts caning vicar
UK/Schools - September 1967
The Cane & the Strap
An American overview of British CP
UK/Reformatories - October 1967
Bishop hits at teacher who told of Court Lees beatings
The Court Lees affair: 'Whistle-blower'
attacked in Parliament
UK/Reformatories - January 1968
Head told to leave approved school
Two boys "caned too hard" in island institution
UK/Schools - February 1968
Teachers plan to call in police: Alternative to cane
Cardiff headteachers are forbidden to use CP
UK/Schools - March 1968
Cardiff may drop no-cane rule
Cane returns to Cardiff
Attempt to abolish CP in primary schools fails
UK/Schools - June 1968
Heads defend right to cane
Conference of headmasters angrily insists on keeping power to use CP
UK/Schools - January 1969
'Caning' teacher cleared
3-stroke whacking was not assault, court rules
UK/Schools - February 1969
Rods in young hands
Schools where senior boys may still cane younger ones come under fire
UK/Schools - March 1969
Mass canings storm at a school
100 London 13-year-olds get one stroke each on seat of pants
Head fined after boy is injured by cane
"Disobedient and defiant" prep school student aged 7 had bruised backside
UK/Schools - August 1969
Teacher's smack 'within bounds of reasonableness'
Teacher cleared of assault after spanking 10-year-old
UK/Illicit - November 1969
Throw away that bat, m'lord
Monthly paddlings for boys and girls at London youth club
UK/Schools - November 1969
Cane for 15 boys who marched with teachers
Painful visit to head's study for London fifth-formers who supported strike
1970-1975
UK/Schools - March 1971
Caned boy knocks out headmaster
West-country 12-year-old, whacked for throwing paper darts, punches head teacher on jaw
UK/Schools - November 1971
London children spared the rod
ILEA proposes to outlaw CP for primary school pupils
Heads may defy ban on caning
Teachers' union reacts angrily to proposed ILEA primary CP ban
UK/Schools - May 1972
Demo schoolkids stone police van
Law nabs rebel Ginger as kids' lib goes on the march
London school students demonstrate against caning and detention
School probe ordered over 'mass caning' row
30 Midlands boys get three whacks each
UK/Schools - September 1972
Campaign opens to abolish the cane in schools
The high cost of cutting out the cane
STOPP makes its debut; new abolitionist book reviewed
UK/Reformatories - October 1973
Row over bring back caning vote
Essex plans to have CP available in its boys' homes
UK/Schools - October 1973
Beating their privileged bottoms
Newspaper surveys CP situation at seven top schools
UK/Schools - April 1974
Ethos plus the stick
Teacher spanked seven 15-year-old boys on school trip
UK/Schools - October 1974
Ouch! Charles looks back on a sore point
Why I was caned at school -- by Charles
Prince of Wales reveals he was caned at prep school
Beating time
School where Charles was caned still uses CP
UK/Schools - June 1975
Tawse incident sparks inquiry
Teachers and the tawse
Strap probe at a school
Walsall comprehensive school boys get three strokes each on buttocks for truancy; newspaper editorial endorses punishment
Question on use of the tawse
Another Walsall mother complains; DPP investigating
Tawse: no action by police
Further developments in Walsall row
Discipline suffering at schools
All this fuss about tawse is hysteria, says Walsall education official
UK/Schools - July 1975
Governors say 'scrap the tawse'
Sequel to Walsall fuss
UK/Illicit - August 1975
Stable joy-riders whipped (illustrated)
Woman is pictured with riding crop with which she caned girls and boys
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