Dad's Army

Dad's Army is a humorous British sitcom of the 1970s about the Home Guard[?] in WW 2. It was popular at the time, and is still often repeated. It starred several veterans of British film, television and stage, including Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, John Laurie[?] and Clive Dunn[?]. Relative newcomers in the regular cast were Ian Lavender[?] and James Beck, the latter dying suddenly part way through the programme's long run, despite being one of the youngest cast members.

It was written by Jimmy Perry[?] and David Croft based partly on Jimmy Croft's experience in the Home Guard but also on the work of comedians such as Will Hay[?]. Lowe played Captain Mainwaring (pronounced "Mannering"), a bank manager who is appointed leader of his town's Home Guard contingent, a motley crew which includes a spiv[?] (Walker), a mother's boy (Frank Pike who was secretly the Sergeant's son...), and several senior citizens. The humour ranged from the subtle (especially in the relationship between Mainwaring and his sergeant, Wilson, who also happened to be his deputy at the bank) to the slapstick (the antics of the elderly Lance-Corporal Jones being a prime example). Jones was an old campaigner who served under Gordon of Khartoum amongst others. Jones had several catch-phrases, including:

• Don't panic!
• They don't like it up 'em
• Permission to speak, sir
• The Fuzzy-Wuzzies

Since the comedy was dependent for its effectiveness on the platoon's failure to participate actively in World War II, opposition to their activities had to come from another quarter, and this generally showed itself in the form of the ARP Warden, played by Bill Pertwee. There was an older villain Captain Square[?], a magistrate moustached Captain who had to poke his nose into the platoon. There were other minor characters such as the Vicar (Reverend Timothy Farthing) and the Verger.

The programme was set in the fictional town of Walmington-On-Sea.

In addition to the TV series, many episodes were remade for BBC Radio 4 with the original cast, although other actors played Walker after James Beck's death. These radio versions were adapted by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles and also starred John Snagge as a newsreader who would set the scene for each episode.

TV Episodes Note that some of these have been lost because of wiping. If you have or know anyone who has a copy of the lost episodes, contact the BBC immediately.

Series 1

• The Man and the Hour
• Museum Piece
• Command Decision
• The Enemy Within the Gates
• The Showing Up of Corporal Jones
• Shooting Pains

Series 2

• Operation Kilt (previously lost but found in 2001)
• The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage (previously lost but found in 2001)
• The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker (lost)
• Sgt. Wilson's Little Secret
• A Stripe for Frazer (lost)
• Under Fire (lost)

Series 3

• The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones
• Battle School
• The Lion Has Phones
• The Bullet is Not for Firing
• Something Nasty in the Vault
• Room at the Bottom (colour version lost)
• Big Guns
• The Day the Balloon Went Up
• War Dance
• Menace from the Deep
• Branded
• Man Hunt
• No Spring for Frazer
• Sons of the Sea

Series 4

• The Big Parade
• Don't Forget the Diver
• Boots Boots Boots
• Sergeant - Save My Boy!
• Don't Fence Me In
• Absent Friends
• Put That Light Out!
• The Two and a Half Feathers
• Mum's Army
• The Test
• A. Wilson (Manager)
• Uninvited Guests
• Fallen Idol

Series 5

• Asleep in the Deep
• Keep Young and Beautiful
• A Soldiers Farewell
• Getting the Bird
• The Desperate Drive of Lance Corporal Jones
• If the Cap Fits...
• The King was in his Counting House
• All is Safely Gathered in
• When Did You Last See Your Money ?
• Brain Versus Brawn
• Brush with the Law
• Round and Round went the Great Big Wheel
• Time on my Hands

Series 6

• The Deadly Attachment
• My British Buddy
• The Royal Train
• We Know Our Onions
• The Honourable Man
• Things that Go Bump in the Night
• The Recruit

Series 7

• Everybodys Trucking
• Man of Action
• Gorilla Warfare
• The Godiva Affair
• The Captain's Car
• Turkey Dinner

Series 8

• Ring Dem Bells
• When You've Got to Go
• Is there Honey Still for Tea?
• Come in, Your Time is Up
• High Finance
• The Face on the Poster

Series 9

Others

• Battle of the Giants (1971 Christmas special)
• My Brother and I (1975 Christmas Special)
• For the Love of Three Oranges (1976 Christmas Special)