Just before dawn on December 30th, 1756, British troops were resting in readiness for an assault on Fort Budge Budge near Calcutta. One, a sailor named Strahan, got himself tipsy and wandered alone into the fort. On realising where he was, he loudly claimed the fort for Britain. Fellow-sailors rushed up to help, and the defenders fled in alarm.

Strahan had expected his superiors to be pleased, but to his disgust they reprimanded him, and even left the threat of a flogging hanging over him. As he went on his way, Strahan was heard to vow that if such was his reward, he would quite give up taking forts by himself in the future.

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