Readers will be aware of the recent passing of actor Ian Lavender, best known for his role as Private Pike in the hugely popular BBC sitcom ‘Dad’s Army’. ‘Pike’ was the last surviving member of the regular cast and his passing has led many of us to reflect again on “Dads’ Army” and what a great show it was.
‘Dad’s Army’ depicted the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard during World War II. This ragtag platoon of bodachs, who were well past their prime, was led by the bumbling, officious but enthusiastic Captain Mainwaring, and were the last line of defence against a potential German invasion.
‘Dad’s Army’ was the brainchild of writing duo Jimmy Perry and David Croft. They brought the Home Guard heroes of Walmington-on-Sea to life, not least the baby faced Private Frank Pike, played so memorably by Ian Lavender.
The well-meaning Home Guard volunteers provide both humor and heart throughout the show’s 9 year run, resulting in a beloved classic that continued to draw in new audiences long after its original run.
It’s been hinted many times that the inspiration for Dad’s Army came from a similar BBC Alba programme called ‘DAFS Army’ created in 1969 by Jimmy Ferry and David De-croft. They just happened to be cousins of Perry and Croft and had shown them early scripts one time when they were up for the North Lochs Communions.
During the Second World War, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries realised that crofting was essential for the nation’s food supply, and so they set up the “DAFS Army” to repel Hitler in case he set his sights on any Common Grazings land, or tried to poach any deer.
Every township across the crofting counties had a DAFS Army platoon, usually made up of bodachs who were too old to be called up, or those in reserved occupations.
To defend the fictional Leodhasach village of Warming-tòn-on-Seaforthroad, Ferry and De-croft assembled a cast of elderly actors, many of whom were veterans of the local film and TV industry going back to the days of the Shealing Comedies or even earlier.
Main Characters
The platoon commander was Captain Marvig, played by Arthur Lowersandwick, an officious Peat Bank Manager.
Marvig’s second in command was the suave and gentlemanly Sergeant Arthur Woolson, played by John le Mochruithear. By day, Woolson worked as Marvig’s Chief Clerk. An ongoing source of hilarity was the relationship between Woolson and the mother of…
…Private Fank Pairc, played by Iain Lavasgarage, who also worked as a junior clerk at the Peat Bank. (As readers may already have guessed, Lavasgarage was a cousin of the late actor Ian Lavender, who played Private Frank Pike in the English copy of the series).
Next in order of rank was the elderly Lance Corporal Blones, played by Clive Dunberisay. Blones was the local butcher and a veteran of General Kershader’s 1896 campaign in the Suetdan, remembered for classic catchphrases such as “Don’t feannag” and “They don’t like it Uppercoll”
Private Godfreychurch, played by Arnol Ridley, was even more elderly and performed the role of Platoon medic and constantly asking if he could ‘be excused’ in order to have a swift dram in the gents.
Private MacCrae-ser, played by John Lorry, playing a dour Undertaker
Private Waulker, played by Seamus Beag, who was a blackmarketeer Tweed dealer
Supporting Cast
Air Raid Warden loo Horgabost, played by Mill Pertweed, who had his own memorable catchphrases (You fleeking ‘ooligan!’) and was always calling Capt Marvig ‘Napoleon!!!’
Reverend Timothy Fank-thing, the local Free Church Minister who let the Platoon use the Church Hall, played by Fank Williams
Godfreechurch’s sisters Dollag and Chrissy
Church Verger Mr Peatman
Mrs Mavis Pairc, mother of Fank and a very close friend of Sgnt Woolsen.
Over the course of its 9 year run, the Platoon had many memorable adventures including perhaps Ian Lavasgarage’s best loved episode – the one with the U-boat. A German submarine sneaks into Loch Seaforth to cut down the trees in Aline Forest, but gets its propeller caught on a poacher’s salmon net and has to surrender. The officious German Captain keeps a wee black book of every one who disrespects the Reich, with a threat that they’ll pay for it once the Nazis ‘haf von ze var’. Private Pairc sings a wee ditty, enraging the German skipper who demands that Pairc cuts down a row of Sitka spruce. When Pairc refuses, Captain Marvig shouts ‘Don’t fell ‘em Pairc!’
Readers will recall the theme song from the show as performed by Bud Feanag-an:
Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler
If you think we’re on the Rum?
We are the coves who will stop you nicking our Game
We are the coves who will chase you off the croft again
‘Cause who do you think you are fleekin’ kidding Mr. Hitler
If you think old Stornoway’s done?
Murchadh Donn goes down the town on the eight twenty-one
But he ‘Home Guards’ each evening
(except if it’s a Sun)
So who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler
If you think old coves are done?