Dad's Army

A ragtag group of Home Guard volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion during World War II.

Cast:Arthur Lowe , John Le Mesurier , Clive Dunn , John Laurie , Arnold Ridley , Ian Lavender , James Beck , Bill Pertwee , Edward Sinclair , Colin Bean , Frank Williams , Janet Davies , Robert Raglan , Pamela Cundell , Harold Bennett , Olive Mercer , Eric Longworth , Geoffrey Lumsden

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ The Man and the Hour

Wed, Jul 31, 1968

When the call goes out for recruits for the new Local Defence Volunteers, in Walmington the town's bank manager appoints himself commander and raises a platoon despite his minimal previous military experience.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Museum Piece

Wed, Aug 7, 1968

The LDV (future Home Guard) is still wanting for military supplies. So Mainwaring can't resists illegally 'requisitioning' anything of use in the Peabody Museum of Historical Army Weapons when it closes for the war. Alas its curator, Lance Corporal Jones' loony, mean 88 year-old father, puts up a crafty, tenacious defence. The loot proves worse than disappointing.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Command Decision

Wed, Aug 14, 1968

Three weeks later, the L.D.V. still have no military equipment, so they improvised 'weapons' and concentrate on the intricacies of unarmed combat. Mainwaring faces a dilemma when estate squire Colonel Square, a Great war veteran, offers the platoon twenty rifles, provided he gets command. Unfortunately his idea of 'modern' warfare is converting them into cavalry, mounting circus horses he minds. The actual arms provide more surprises.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ The Enemy Within the Gates

Wed, Aug 21, 1968

Mainwaring's men capture a couple of German airmen.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ The Showing Up of Corporal Jones

Wed, Aug 28, 1968

The uniforms finally arrive, albeit without buttons, and all other supplies remain a matter of 'improvisation'. Grim HQ inspector Major Regan thus scolds the stuff and the black market even before testing the men. Still, thanks to Wilson's instructions the platoon passes. However, Jones is over age, so he's fired unless he passes an obstacle course within 15 minutes, while nightly tests remain over two hours.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Shooting Pains

Wed, Sep 4, 1968

Winston Churchill is to visit Walmington-on-Sea and there is rivalry between Mainwaring's outfit and the Eastgate platoon as to which of them will supply the guard of honour for him. The answer is simple - the unit which wins a shooting contest. Since Mainwaring's men are pretty hopeless salvation seems to lie in Laura La Plaz, a stage sharp-shooter of Walker's acquaintance, who has to be disguised as a man to take part. Fortunately Frazer comes to the platoon's aid, being a crack shot who wins the contest.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ Operation Kilt

Sat, Mar 1, 1969

Eager as ever, Captain Mainwaring takes charge of the HQ-instructed physical training. The men's wariness to 'strip down' for it was right, Pike's mum embarrasses everyone when she drops by. The military challenge follows in the person of Captain Ogilvie, who announces his professional troops will attempt to penetrate the Home Guard platoon's HQ by way of exercise.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage

Sat, Mar 8, 1969

The platoon have been told that at the invasion signal, the ringing of the church bells, they must meet up at one of two rallying posts, Godfrey's cottage or the Novelty Rock Emporium. When the bells sound half go to the one and half to the other. Jones has forgotten his helmet, and Godfrey lends him a German one, which leads to his being mistaken for the enemy and fired at. Godfrey's sisters shake a table-cloth out of the window and this is interpreted as a white flag of surrender until Warden Hodges explains that there is no invasion, it was all a mistake.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker

Sat, Mar 15, 1969

Walker gets his call-up papers; the platoon devise a series of ploys to avoid losing him to active service.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Sgt. Wilson's Little Secret

Sat, Mar 22, 1969

On parade Mainwaring notices that Wilson is looking even more distracted than usual and asks him what is wrong. Wilson has heard Mavis telling Pike that 'a little Arthur is on his way' and assumes that he has got Mavis pregnant. Mainwaring tells him to do the decent thing and marry her but when it turns out that the little Arthur is a ten-year-old London evacuee that Mavis has taken in there is no wedding.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ A Stripe for Frazer

Sat, Mar 29, 1969

Mainwaring is told by HQ to make a promotion. Would it be wise to promote Frazer?

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Under Fire

Sat, Apr 5, 1969

During the German fire bombing campaign, the platoon has to deal with fires and a suspect enemy agent, all with the usual high jinks.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones

Thu, Sep 11, 1969

Jones' butcher van is converted into an armoured car for the platoon.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ Battle School

Thu, Sep 18, 1969

The Platoon spend the weekend at a training facility, where they are challenged to capture an officer.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ The Lion Has 'Phones

Thu, Sep 25, 1969

Mainwaring discovers his men do not know how to use a public telephone, a key part of his new defensive plan, when a German plane crash lands near Walmington.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ The Bullet Is Not for Firing

Thu, Oct 2, 1969

The platoon fires off (almost) all its ammunition at an enemy plane and Mainwaring insists on doing what he sees is the right thing.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ Something Nasty in the Vault

Thu, Oct 9, 1969

Mainwaring and Wilson are trapped in the bank with an unexploded bomb.

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ Room at the Bottom

Thu, Oct 16, 1969

Mainwaring discovers that he was never actually promoted to Captain, and must adjust to life at his correct rank: Private.

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ Big Guns

Thu, Oct 23, 1969

A field gun is delivered to the platoon; can they work out how to use it?

8Season 3

S3.E8 ∙ The Day the Balloon Went Up

Thu, Oct 30, 1969

Mainwaring's men practice saluting and take control of a runaway barrage balloon.

9Season 3

S3.E9 ∙ War Dance

Thu, Nov 6, 1969

The platoon holds a dance providing a variety of opportunities for dysfunctional social intercourse.

10Season 3

S3.E10 ∙ Menace from the Deep

Thu, Nov 13, 1969

Mainwaring and his platoon get into a pickle when they're put in charge manning an observation post on a derelict pier.

11Season 3

S3.E11 ∙ Branded

Thu, Nov 20, 1969

It is revealed that Private Godfrey was a Conscientious Objector in the First World War, leading Mainwaring and some of the platoon to brand him as a coward. However, during an exercise in which Mainwaring collapses with smoke inhalation, it is Godfrey who, at risk to himself, rescues him. When Mainwaring and the others go to visit Godfrey, recovering in bed, they see a photo of him with a military medal, won in the First World War when he was a brave stretcher bearer who saved many lives. Mainwaring is ashamed and asks Godfrey to be the platoon's official First Aid representative.

12Season 3

S3.E12 ∙ Man Hunt

Thu, Nov 27, 1969

Mainwaring and the platoon are off on the hunt for British and German parachutes, parachutists, and the 'lingerie' made from them.

13Season 3

S3.E13 ∙ No Spring for Frazer

Thu, Dec 4, 1969

Pte. Fraser loses the butterfly spring from the platoon's Lewis gun, and fears it is trapped inside a coffin with the late Mr. Blewitt.

14Season 3

S3.E14 ∙ Sons of the Sea

Thu, Dec 11, 1969

The platoon buys a canoe, and intends to create a river-based defense system, but get lost and drift into the ocean.

1Season 4

S4.E1 ∙ The Big Parade

Fri, Sep 25, 1970

The rivalry between Mainwaring's Home Guard and Hodge's ARP men surfaces again when it comes to who marches at the front of a parade.

2Season 4

S4.E2 ∙ Don't Forget the Diver

Fri, Oct 2, 1970

The Walmington platoon have to defeat the Eastgate Platoon in an exercise. Mainwaring has a plan utilizing a diver and revolving around Jones.

3Season 4

S4.E3 ∙ Boots, Boots, Boots

Fri, Oct 9, 1970

The men hatch plans to curb Mainwaring's latest passion; feet and boots.

4Season 4

S4.E4 ∙ Sgt - Save My Boy!

Fri, Oct 16, 1970

Pike gets caught up in barbed wire - just as his mum is paying the platoon a visit.

5Season 4

S4.E5 ∙ Don't Fence Me In

Fri, Oct 23, 1970

Mainwaring is crestfallen as the platoon are ordered to take over guarding a POW camp - an easy task but there is something shady about the business.

6Season 4

S4.E6 ∙ Absent Friends

Fri, Oct 30, 1970

Mainwaring, and Wilson, are both stunned to find themselves undermined, but an opportunity arises to hit the bull's-eye and regain respect.

7Season 4

S4.E7 ∙ Put That Light Out!

Fri, Nov 6, 1970

Jones, Fraser, Godfrey and Pike are trapped in the lighthouse tower at night when they accidentally illuminate the entire town for enemy bombers.

8Season 4

S4.E8 ∙ The Two and a Half Feathers

Fri, Nov 13, 1970

A 'ghost' from Jones's past joins the platoon, bringing allegations. Jones is compelled to defend his reputation in historic vignette.

9Season 4

S4.E9 ∙ Mum's Army

Fri, Nov 20, 1970

Captain Mainwaring and the men have a 'brief encounter' as womenfolk join the platoon to fight against the common foe.

10Season 4

S4.E10 ∙ The Test

Fri, Nov 27, 1970

The ARP wardens challenge the Home Guard to a cricket match.

11Season 4

S4.E11 ∙ A. Wilson (Manager)?

Fri, Dec 4, 1970

Mainwaring's pique on learning of Wilson's promotion, leads to more chaos in Walmington and Eastgate.

12Season 4

S4.E12 ∙ Uninvited Guests

Fri, Dec 11, 1970

Mainwaring and Hodges, and their men, are forced by circumstances to share facilities - with predictable bad grace.

13Season 4

S4.E13 ∙ Fallen Idol

Fri, Dec 18, 1970

Captain Square persuades Mainwaring to join him in the officers' mess whilst on a training weekend.

14Season 4

S4.E14 ∙ Battle of the Giants!

Mon, Dec 27, 1971

Captain Square continues to vex Captain Mainwaring, leading to an inter-platoon competition.

1Season 5

S5.E1 ∙ Asleep in the Deep

Fri, Oct 6, 1972

Walker and Godfrey become trapped in the gasworks they are guarding. Mainwaring and his men come to the rescue with watery consequences.

2Season 5

S5.E2 ∙ Keep Young and Beautiful

Fri, Oct 13, 1972

The War Office plans a review of both the Home Guard and the ARP in order to decide which less fit soldiers of the first and less fit of the second should be transferred to the other corps. As this is the last thing that either group's men want, various tricks go towards making them look younger or older. After a field exercise proves the platoon's fitness is at best questionable, Mainwaring tries a terrible toupee, Wilson wears a corset, Frazer and Walker make money by using unsuitable beautician substances.

3Season 5

S5.E3 ∙ A Soldier's Farewell

Fri, Oct 20, 1972

The platoon are at the cinema watching a Greta Garbo film but only Mainwaring stands to attention for the National Anthem and gets knocked over by the others rushing for the exit. On the bus home they encounter Hodges, who is rude to the bus conductress. Mainwaring defends her but again gets knocked down as the men hurry to get off for last orders. After getting the men to stand for the anthem on parade next day - though Wilson accidentally plays the German anthem - Mainwaring falls out with his wife and has a toasted cheese supper with Wilson and Jones. He falls asleep in his air raid shelter and dreams that he is Napoleon, Wilson is Wellington and the conductress is Josephine. As in the events of the previous night he gets knocked over. When he wakes up his wife has left him a note to tell him off for not coming home.

4Season 5

S5.E4 ∙ Getting the Bird

Fri, Oct 27, 1972

Rumours abound when Sergeant Wilson is seen with his arm around an attractive young woman in a WREN's uniform, causing an argument between himself and Mainwaring who catches him sleeping off a hangover in the church hall. Suddenly pigeons appear - Walker has got them to sell to Jones in the absence of other meat but he has yet to kill them, which he eventually does. However, a radio report reveals the disappearance of pigeons from Trafalgar Square, so he hides them in the organ loft and out they fly when Jones plays the organ. The young lady with Wilson is actually his daughter from a brief marriage.

5Season 5

S5.E5 ∙ The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones

Fri, Nov 3, 1972

The platoon are on an exercise whereby everyone except for Godfrey and Jones ends up in a deserted barn. Jones sees from the map that they have been given the wrong reference and the barn will be blown up in half an hour as part of a live ammunition exercise. They try to phone up but Godfrey cuts the wire by mistake. To add to their plight Jones's van has broken down,so he has to take the colonel's car to reach the barn and warn the platoon in time.

6Season 5

S5.E6 ∙ If the Cap Fits....

Fri, Nov 10, 1972

After another of Mainwaring's long, creative 'vital' lectures, Jock is appointed spokesman to complain that the men have had enough of wasting their time. Mainwaring tries a suggestion from the manual: the troublemaker is to have a go at being an officer. 'Captain' James Frazer proves an even worse tyrant, demotes and promotes but impresses the new area commander, fellow Scotsman Major General Menzies. When everyone is back to their real rank, an invitation arrives, meant for Jock, who didn't mention the charade. The invite is to play the pipes with some men in the HQ haggis ceremony.

7Season 5

S5.E7 ∙ The King Was in His Counting House

Fri, Nov 17, 1972

The platoon's first-ever private party, thrown by the captain at his disappointingly plain home, proves un-amusing. It's cut short anyhow by a bomb alert - a hit on his bank! The money is carried to the church, counted painstakingly with typical bumbling and tension then carried off, but the captain drives the horse cart with new disastrous consequences.

8Season 5

S5.E8 ∙ All Is Safely Gathered In

Fri, Nov 24, 1972

The Walmington-on-Sea platoon are called in to help with the harvest at Godfrey's ladyfriend's farm.

9Season 5

S5.E9 ∙ When Did You Last See Your Money?

Fri, Dec 1, 1972

Jones has been entrusted with five hundred pounds by local shopkeepers but when he brings it to the bank he finds he has a pound of sausages instead. Frazer hypnotizes him into recalling when he last saw the money, apparently stuffing a chicken for Mr. Blewitt, but there is no money in the chicken. various suggestions as to its whereabouts are made until it is eventually found.

10Season 5

S5.E10 ∙ Brain Versus Brawn

Fri, Dec 8, 1972

At a business community function, where both Wilson and Walker outshine him, Captain Mainwaring accepts a challenge to prove his men are a match for the Home Guard's new, regularly trained, physically superior commandos. Their display of 'brains over brawn' should eliminate the commandos-guarded fuel depot by getting a fake bomb there. A far-fetched plan, dressed up as firemen, ends in the usual brave bumbling from the braves and the for once collaborating verger. Surprises come from a real fire and real brains.

11Season 5

S5.E11 ∙ A Brush with the Law

Fri, Dec 15, 1972

Captain Square ridicules Mainwaring for the pitiful state of some of his men's rifles. The captain rudely denies it but internally blames it all on Wilson's lax inspection techniques and general poor style. Worse is to come when the A.R.P. have George Mainwaring formally charged for an un-obscured light emanating from the church where his platoon is. The verger warns Hodges it's a false accusation and the platoon rehearses their lie. Mainwaring defends himself and the presiding magistrate is none other than the still offended Square.

12Season 5

S5.E12 ∙ Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel

Fri, Dec 22, 1972

In 1941 the War office decides to test an experimental invention for delivering explosives. For secrecy the test is done on the coast, using three local Home Guard platoons. Mainwaring's vanity is used to make him volunteer blindly for 'special duties', which turn out to be the dirty work. However the weapon gets away, following Frank's illegal home-made radio, and only the bumbling bunch is in a position to stop it blowing up all Walmington on Sea.

13Season 5

S5.E13 ∙ Time on My Hands

Fri, Dec 29, 1972

The platoon is called to seize a German pilot whose parachute is caught on the church steeple clock. Getting him down is hard enough, given the language barrier. Then Jones manages to drop the ladder and the warden refuses to help. Even the clock's hourly display figures seems to remember it's German-made. Luckily, the vicar and Wilson recall their fairy tales..

1Season 8

S8.E1 ∙ Ring Dem Bells

Fri, Sep 5, 1975

The platoon is selected to act as Nazis in an army film. With Wilson and Pike playing officers mayhem is inevitable.

2Season 8

S8.E2 ∙ When You've Got to Go

Fri, Sep 12, 1975

Pike gets his call-up papers whilst Mainwaring and Hodges vie for who can recruit the most blood-donors.

3Season 8

S8.E3 ∙ Is There Honey Still for Tea?

Fri, Sep 19, 1975

Whilst Mainwaring has to endure a replacement office door made of paper, Godfrey's cottage will need demolishing to make way for a new airfield. Members in the platoon each help out in ways reflecting their unique characters.

4Season 8

S8.E4 ∙ Come In, Your Time Is Up

Fri, Sep 26, 1975

The Platoon's weekend camp is enlivened by the Sea Scouts and Nazis.

5Season 8

S8.E5 ∙ High Finance

Fri, Oct 3, 1975

Mainwaring finds that Jones's books don't balance but he is just the man to sort it all out.

6Season 8

S8.E6 ∙ The Face on the Poster

Fri, Oct 10, 1975

Despite assessing Wilson's efficiency unfavourably, Mainwaring leaves him to organise a recruiting poster.

7Season 8

S8.E7 ∙ My Brother and I

Fri, Dec 26, 1975

Captain Mainwaring's home truths are revealed when his brother pays a visit.

8Season 8

S8.E8 ∙ The Love of Three Oranges

Sun, Dec 26, 1976

The vicar holds a charity bazaar, the proceeds going to luxuries for the troops. Godfrey tries to sell his home-made wine but people are getting drunk by tasting and not buying it. Mrs. Mainwaring fails to turn up after an accident with the bath enamel but donates some hideous lamp-shades she has made. Hodges contributes three oranges and Mainwaring is anxious to secure one for his wife but when Wilson gets Pike to buy it for the captain, the two end up bidding against each other and raising the price of the orange. Mainwaring finally buys it only to find it is a bitter orange, for marmalade-making.

1Season 9

S9.E1 ∙ Wake-Up Walmington

Sun, Oct 2, 1977

Mainwaring's men dress up as fifth columnists in an attempt to remedy the apathy displayed by the population.

2Season 9

S9.E2 ∙ The Making of Private Pike

Sun, Oct 9, 1977

Captain Mainwaring's reservations to accept the 'non-combatant' role of umpire in maneuver exercises (as deputy for the Home Guard colonel) quickly disappear when he learns the job comes with a non-assigned staff car. His platoon might be allowed to keep this car, but he makes the mistake of bragging in advance it would be some sort of limousine, so the less grand model gets him generally laughed at. Next Jones' remarks about military car seating etiquette starts an unmusical dance of chairs in it. Pike's eagerness to be allowed in it as runner and general boyish pride are irresponsibly stirred by warden Hodges's niece Sylvia, a regular army driver and the only girl to look at him in times, who besots him to go to the pictures and makes him take the car, ignoring Jones didn't put the petrol in.

3Season 9

S9.E3 ∙ Knights of Madness

Sun, Oct 16, 1977

The old rivalry between Mainwaring and Hodges resurfaces as they both organise displays for the local "Wings for Victory" pageant.

4Season 9

S9.E4 ∙ The Miser's Hoard

Sun, Oct 23, 1977

Captain Mainwaring tries to persuade Frazer to deposit his hoard of gold sovereigns in the bank.

5Season 9

S9.E5 ∙ Number Engaged

Sun, Oct 30, 1977

The platoon are tasked with guarding a vital telephone line. Predictably mishaps ensue.

6Season 9

S9.E6 ∙ Never Too Old

Sun, Nov 6, 1977

Corporal Jones marries Mrs Fox in this, the final episode, whilst the platoon are ever watchful in case of invasion.