I grew up in the South West of England during the 1950;s. I was the second eldest of four sons. John was the oldest followed by me, James (Jim), followed by Scott and then William the youngest. Our parents, Edward and Margaret, ran the local post office and were well known and liked by the local community. They were also loving and kind to us but strict disciplinarians who believed strongly in corporal punishment.
These punishments could be put into three categories, minor moderate and major. A minor punishment meant being put across mum or dads knee and receiving ten or twelve hand slaps to our clothed bottom. The spanking would normally be carried out in the kitchen or living room and be witnessed by who ever was present at that time. These spankings were more common when we were younger but as we became older the punishment became less effective and therefore less frequent and by the time we were about nine or ten it was not used at all.
A moderate punishment was similar to the one describe above, but with the following changes. This time before being put over mum or dads knee our short trousers and underpants were taken down and we were spanked on the bare bottom. Also if dad felt it necessary to bare your bottom before putting you over his knee it would always mean he would be using his slipper. Mum, however still used her hand, once we had grown older she turned to an old wooden hairbrush. As well as these spankings being more painful they could also be very humiliating because if you were spanked in the kitchen at a mealtime, or in the living room, the whole family would get to watch your bottom turning red as well as hear your cries of pain and pleas for mercy. These punishments were probably used most often in our household.
A major punishment was an experience I will never forget, thankfully I only received a hand full of these during my entire childhood. A major punishment would only be carried out once mum and dad had discussed you're behaviour and agree it was sufficiently bad to merit such a punishment. Once agreed you would be sent to you're bedroom and wait for dad to come in with his three thong leather tawse, the wait felt like hours but was probably only 10 of 15 minutes. Once in the bedroom you would prepare yourself for punishment, this would mean taking off shoes, socks and shorts, then you would take a pillow from the top of the bed and place it over the bar at the bottom of the bed once this was done all that was left was the wait. I remember my dad taking me through this ritual the first time I received the tawse and thinking to myself that I was preparing for my execution. When dad arrived in the room you would immediately stand up he would give you a brief lecture and then, utter the dreaded words "bend over". Once you had done so dad would push your shirt and vest well up your back then he would slip his hands into the elastic of your underpants and slowly pull then down to about knee level. He would them step back placing the tawse carefully on the lower part of you're bottom and taking careful aim. I remember the first time I was in this position and tensing up my bottom for the blow that was about to come and when it did feeling as though someone had set fire to my bottom. My father would deliberate carefully over each stroke I do not no if this was a good thing or bad but it was a dreadfully painful experience. After the required number of strokes, a minimum of four and maximum of twelve, had been administered dad would tell you to stand up. He then gave another brief lecture which would end with him telling you to pull up you're pants and go and wash. However the punishment was not over, the final part of the ritual would be to spend the rest of the day in you're underpants, which wou! ld serve, notice to the other boys in the family that serious misbehaviuor would be severly punished.
Unfortunately for him my elder brother, John, was the most frequent recipient of the tawse, not for bad behaviour but because he was not the brightest boy at school. Dad had a rule punished at school meant punished at home. Bad school marks meant the housemasters cane across you're bottom accompanied with a letter home and the cane at school meant the tawse when you got home in fact the number of strokes you received from the cane were double for the tawse.
Although discipline was common and sometimes serve in our household my brothers and I had a great affection for our parents who have since passed away. We also have all married and have families of our own as for smacking I can only speak for myself and say I have smacked my own son but I have never used an implement or smacked his bare bottom, he is generally a good lad but I cant help but think some of today's youth could do with a dose of my fathers strap.