Reach the top to see what’s at the bottom

It’s always been one of my favourite anecdotes, but given an apparent lack of relevance to groin strains and lengthy suspensions, I’d never expected to be able to air it in this corner of the paper.

‘Til now.

In the latter stages of World War One, the American authorities decided it’d be a good idea to send cultured ladies to lecture their front-line troops on civilisation and culture, to educate their minds and relieve their souls.