My father in law told me that in his Army Mess was a big old fireplace. The game was to stand to attention on the mantlepiece, facing the room and then to fall forward. The officer reaching the most extreme angle whilst remaining at attention and without jumping off won.
The Mess record was finally claimed for all time when a certain officer continued beyond the vertical and smashed his face in on the fire back, toes still on the mantlepiece. The fire was lit at the time. He went to hospital loking like a survivor from a coal mining accident....
