During World War I, Strachey, having applied for an exemption from compulsory
military service as a conscientious objector, was required to appear before
a tribunal, whose representative blasted him with questions designed to intimidate:
"I understand, Mr. Strachey, that you have a conscientious objection to
all wars?" he began.
"Oh, no, not at all," Strachey remarked. "Only to this one."
"Tell me, Mr. Strachey, what would you do if you saw a German soldier attempting
to rape your sister?"
"I should try," Strachey replied, gazing at his sisters in the public
gallery, "and come between them."
[After further examination by military doctors, Strachey won his exemption.
Strachey, [Giles] Lytton (1880-1932), British writer, leading member of the
Bloomsbury group.
Source: M. Holroyd, Lytton Strachey.