Dads Army Tribute
The Dads Army Clan took its name from the world famous TV sitcom, Dads Army. Some (but not all) of the clan use character names from the show within their game tags.
Dads Army was a long running British comedy series on the BBC, written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. It began in 1968 and ran for 9 years with eighty episodes. The series was about a small fictional seaside town of ‘Walmington on sea’ somewhere on the south coast of England during the Second World War. It followed a group of men who set up the Towns’ Local Defence Volunteers, later to become ‘The Home Guard’. The series dealt with seven main characters who lived within the town. Most were ‘Old Campaigners’ from the First World War, one was under conscription age, another, a ‘draft dodger. All were lead by a pompous bank manager, Mr George Mainwaring (played by Arthur Lowe) who got the platoon involved in some hilarious exploits in the name of civil defence. The many disasters that befell him were not always his fault. His platoon were very loyal, and they followed him, though not without questioning some of his decisions.
There were elements of slapstick, irony, pathos, word play and nostalgia within the many episodes, the historic detailing is spot on, right down to the music linking the scenes. The programme continues to attract healthy ratings to this day.
A feature length film was made by Columbia Pictures in 1971, and a stage show based on the series toured the UK playing to capacity audiences between 1975 - 1976. The programme was also adapted for BBC radio, just as successfully.
Most of the cast are no longer with us, but their memory lives on in the recordings and various books on ‘Dad’s Army’.
The Main Cast:
Captain George Mainwaring – Arthur Lowe
Captain, Bank Manager, Rotarian, pillar of the community. George Mainwaring was all of these. Born in Eastbourne in 1885, his father, Edmund, was a member of the Master Tailors Guild. He was educated at the local grammar school, and upon leaving found work at the local branch of Swallow Bank, and slowly working his way up to become Manager in 1935.
Sergeant Arthur Wilson – John Le Mesurier
It is a bone of contention with Captain Mainwaring that Arthur Wilson had the benefit of a private education, in his case taken at Meadowbridge Public School. Inspite of pressure from one of his many uncles, Arthur started his working life at a merchant bank in the city, whilst maintaining what he could of the good life.
Lance Corporal Jones – Clive Dunn OBE
An experienced soldier, with many years service (and medals) to his name, Jack Jones clearly defines an old campaigner. He served with General Gordon, Lord Kitchener and General Macully becoming very fond of the cold steel.
Private James Frazer – John Laurie
Every town has a purveyor of doom and gloom. Everything, according to him, will turn into a disaster. James Frazer could almost be right in thinking this way when he joined the Home Guard. As the local undertaker, it is inevitable that he would see the war through different eyes.
Private Joe Walker – Jimmy Beck
If you need anything from whiskey to knicker elastic, watches or even weapons, Joe Walker will get them for you. ‘Mind you, as it’s war-time it will cost you, ‘cos you can’t get ‘em’. Joe is a typical cockney spiv, making his way through life ducking and diving, trying to avoid the law.
Private Charles Godfrey – Arnold Ridley
With experience in the Army and Navy, you’d think that Charles Godfrey was the ideal man to have about you during war time. When you discover that his experience was in the gentleman’s outfitting department of the Army and Navy Stores you would be right in thinking the opposite.
Private Frank Pike – Ian Lavender
By far the youngest member of the newly formed platoon at 17, Frank was too young to enlist in the services, but jumped at the chance of belonging to the Home Guard, much to his mother’s displeasure. For some reason this displeasure spread to Arthur Wilson, or Uncle Arthur, as Frank would usually address him.
Walmington-on-Sea
(Click picture for larger image)
Many thanks to the various Dads Army Fan Sites out there who provided the information on which this tribute was based.
