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Dad's Army

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
Revision as of 04:15, 29 January 2012 by Cheywoodward2 (talk | contribs)
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Dad's Army (1968-1977)

Dad's Army is a British sitcom that was broadcasted on the BBC between 1968 and 1977, about a platoon of the British Home Guards tasked with defending the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea in the event of a German invasion. The platoon is led by pompous Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) and his diffident Second-in-Command, Sergeant Arthur Wilson (John Le Mesurier). It is often cited as one of the most popular British television shows. Several of the cast were veterans of World War One or Two.

The following firearms were seen in the British comedy series Dad's Army:

Rifles

M1917 Enfield

The Walmington-on-Sea platoon is issued with M1917 Enfield rifles in the episode Command Decision. These become their main service weapons, with the exception of Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe). Private James Frazer (John Laurie) frequently switches between the M1917 and the Lewis Gun, depending on the scenario. The M1917 Enfield was indeed issued in large numbers to the Home Guard, in lieu of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield, under the Lend Lease program.

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M1917 Enfield - .30-06
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The platoon demonstrates a firing drill from their new Armoured Car (Lance-Corporal Jones' Butcher Van) with M1917 Enfield's in The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones.
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Private James Frazer (John Laurie) and Sergeant Arthur Wilson (John Le Mesurier) carry M1917 Enfield rifles when they are ambushed by British soldiers in Battle School.
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Lance Corporal-Jack Jones (Clive Dunn) with an M1917 Enfield.
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Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) inspects Lance-Corporal Jones' M1917.
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Private Joe Walker (James Beck) and Private James Frazer (John Laurie) fire blanks from their M1917's in a house-clearing drill, unaware the Vicar, Verger and ARP Warden are in the room.
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Private Frank Pike (Ian Lavender) with his Enfield slung.

Submachine Guns

M1928A1 Thompson

The platoon is issued an M1928A1 Thompson with two magazines, a stick and drum, in All is Safely Gathered In. It is first issued to Private Frank Pike (Ian Lavender), whom refers to it as the "Chicago Piano" and constantly uses it to make machine gun noises, to Captain Mainwaring's annoyance. Like the M1917 Enfield, the Thompson was issued to the Home Guard under Lend-Lease.

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M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine and early 'simplified' rear sight that would be adopted for the M1 Thompson - .45 ACP
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Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) and Sergeant Arthur Wilson (John Le Mesurier) inspect their new M1928A1 Thompson.
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Wilson shows off the 50-round drum.
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Private Frank Pike (Ian Lavender) with the Thompson.

Machine Guns

Lewis Gun

Private James Frazer (John Laurie) is issued the platoon Lewis Gun. It is most notably used in The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage, when Frazer fires on a detachment of the Home Guard he mistakes for Germans, and No Spring for Frazer, when he misplaces the gun's spring and is forced to search a used coffin for it. Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) also keeps a Lewis Gun - presumably the same one - mounted on a sandbagged nest in defence of his bank.

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Lewis Gun - .303 British
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Private James Frazer (John Laurie) fires his Lewis Gun at an errant sea mine in Menace from the Deep.
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Frazer with his Lewis Gun, sans a magazine, in No Spring for Frazer.

Sidearms

Webley Mk VI

Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) carries a Webley Mk VI throughout the series. It may have been his old service revolver from his time in the army, as many Home Guard officers used theirs.

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Webley Mk. VI - .455 Webley
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Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) with his Webley Mk VI drawn.
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Captain Mainwaring holds his Webley on snooping ARP Warden Hodges (Bill Pertwee) in Round And Round Went The Great Big Wheel.