Foreman, Melody Dad's Army Goes to War: The Cast and Their Real Wartime Service

For decades, the classic, evergreen BBC comedy "Dad's Army" has entertained millions of viewers around the world. But the absurd antics of the doltish home guard squad from Walmington-on-Sea disguise the true military service of some of the actors. Despite their light-hearted appearance, many of the actors served in one or even both world wars - and much of it was anything but funny. The sitcom was inspired by the experiences of one of its writers, Jimmy Perry, who as a young 16-year-old wannabe comedian was still waiting for his call-up papers when he joined the zealous warriors of the Home Guard in 1940. Little did he realise then that decades later, a group of men from the Watford Battalion would provide the inspiration that put his name in the spotlight. Was it actually Perry's own gullibility as a teenager that helped mould the character of Private Pike? Even the affable Lance Corporal Jones - in reality Clive Dunn, a former prisoner of war who served with the 4th Queen's Own Hussars - was partly based on an old soldier Perry knew who had served in Sudan, Perry admitted. This veteran recalled that a superior officer had told him to "piss on his rifle" to cool it down. Perry later served in India with the Royal Artillery and later with Combined Services Entertainments. As a twenty-year-old British Army officer, David Croft was stationed in North Africa when a series of comic incidents, including his battles with a Bofors gun, characterised the misadventures of the soldiers of "Dad's Army"! Theatre enthusiast Arthur Lowe from Derbyshire, who played the redoubtable Captain Mainwaring, was thin and had gnarled knees when he was posted to No.2 Field Entertainment Unit in Egypt. Meanwhile, sluggish, good-natured actor John Le Mesurier reported for duty with the Royal Tank Regiment with golf clubs in his boot. He ironically endured life in Deolali (Doolally in India) until 1943, where he was "promoted to captain" until his discharge in 1946. The astonishing bravery of actor and playwright Arnold Ridley, who was denied a DSO and a Military Medal for his actions during the First World War, makes for heartbreaking reading. His portrayal of good old Private Godfrey won him millions of admirers. The classic actor John Laurie - Private "We're all doomed" Frazer - was also a hero of the trenches. With his dry sense of humour, he once made everyone on set laugh when he said: "I've played every Shakespearean role, I was considered the best Hamlet of the 1920s and I was already retired, and now I'm famous for doing this crap!" That every single man, including the mocking Laurie, contributed to making "Dad's Army" an everlasting success will never be forgotten. And why? Well, in reality, they had seen war and knew war, and yet they always fully recognised and understood that the power of laughter is the ultimate triumph.