Captain George Mainwaring (pronounced 'Mannering') is a fictional bank manager and Home Guard platoon commander portrayed by Arthur Lowe on the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army, set in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea during World War II. He has become widely accepted and regarded as a classic British comic character owing to both the popularity of Dad's Army throughout the years and Lowe's portrayal of him in this show. This is a list of primary and significant recurring characters who were featured in the BBC sitcom Dads Army, which ran from 1968 - 1977. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... // The Man and the Hour is the first & pilot episode of the British comedy series Dads Army that was originally transmitted on Wednesday 31 July 1968. ... Never Too Old is the final episode of the ninth series and the last ever episode of the British comedy series Dads Army. ... Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 — 15 April 1982) was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. ... Alice, a fictional character based on a real character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... Management (from Old French ménagement the art of conducting, directing, from Latin manu agere to lead by the hand) characterises the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Platoon of the German Bundeswehr. ... Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 — 15 April 1982) was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Dad’s Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard in the Second World War, written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. ... FicTioNaL is a Gaming Legend. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Walmington-on-Sea was a fictional seaside resort where the BBC tv comedy series, BBC radio series and film Dads Army was based. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Personality

Mainwaring is a pompous, blustering figure filled with a somewhat overdeveloped sense of his own importance, fuelled by both his social status in Walmington-on-Sea as the local bank manager, and his status as the Captain and commander of the local Home Guard volunteer unit. A very officious man, he believes in following rules and orders to sometimes ludicrous degrees. He is extremely class conscious and something of a snob, considering himself to be upper-middle class and displaying a tendency to look down on anyone whom he considers to be beneath him (this may be attributed to his working class background and the intense struggle he faced to lift himself beyond this). Mainwaring is also somewhat prudish and repressed, and can be extremely judgemental about people whom he believes do not share his moral outlook. Walmington-on-Sea was a fictional seaside resort where the BBC tv comedy series, BBC radio series and film Dads Army was based. ... Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures. ... A snob, guilty of snobbery, is a person that adopts the world-view that other people are inherently inferior for any one of a variety of reasons including supposed intellect, wealth, education, ancestry, etc. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Middle Class. ... Modesty describes a set of culturally determined values that relate to the presentation of the self to others. ...

Unfortunately for Mainwaring, his pomposity and snobbery tend to work against him, as he is frequently dependent on those whom he considers beneath him, and his arrogant and pompous attitude is frequently punctured by circumstance and the people around him, such as Arthur Wilson, his genuinely upper-class sergeant and chief clerk with whom he shares a curiously antagonistic and long-suffering friendship, and Private Joe Walker, a black-marketer who more often than not interjects during Mainwaring's more pompous or moralistic lectures with either a cheeky quip or a sly revelation that Mainwaring is himself the beneficiary of some rather underhanded deals, despite his righteous outlook and declarations. He is particularly jealous of Wilson (who, as well as being notionally higher in social class than Mainwaring, is also both more relaxed and charming in nature and possesses combat experience that Mainwaring does not), and takes every opportunity to remind his sergeant exactly who is the senior of the two. Sergeant (The Honourable) Arthur Wilson is a fictional Home Guard platoon sergeant and bank clerk portrayed by John Le Mesurier on the BBC television situation comedy Dads Army. ... Private Joe Walker is a fictional black market spiv (or Wholesales Trader, as he politely puts it) and Home Guard platoon member portrayed by actor James Beck on the BBC television sitcom Dads Army. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into underground economy. ...

As a bank manager, he is shown to be highly efficient (if somewhat ruthless and stingy); as a military commander, however, he is frequently shown to be barely competent at the best of times (for example, he is perennially confused by the 24-hour clock, a standard of military communication and organisation), and his plans and strategy frequently result in chaos. Mainwaring has no prior combat experience, a fact which sometimes caused tension with the other members of the Home Guard-particulary Wilson-who-in addition to his Upper class background-the last epsiode reveals to have been a decorated Captain of World War I-which is a source of bitterness and jealously for Mainwaring. {Ironically John Le Mesurier who played "Sgt Wilson" had been a Captain in World War II}. He did, however, serve in France, "during the whole of 1919—somebody had to clear up the mess." Despite his numerous shortcomings as a leader, however, he considers himself to be an excellent military tactician and, given his height and background, is frequently demonstrated to possess a Napoleon Complex, something which is frequently referred to by his nemesis, ARP Warden Hodges. In one episode, 'A Soldier's Farewell', Mainwairing actually dreams that he is Napoleon Bonaparte, and is thwarted at Waterloo by a Duke of Wellington looking remarkably like Arthur Wilson. His pomposity and conviction of his own organisational prowess see Mainwaring yearn to be in control of any situation, and he has a tendency to behave in an arrogant and high-handed manner to achieve this end; this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that, in the first episode, he himself organised the Home Guard unit, and appointed himself as the commanding officer despite his lack of experience or qualifications (and had to wait until the episode "Room at the Bottom" before he received his commission). However it is worth noting that in the episode Command Decision he was prepared to reliquinsh control so that the platoon could gain rifles arguing that the defence of the country was more important than his own ego. In addition he was prepared to "march in the ranks as Private Mainwaring" when he was briefly de-commissioned. This seems to imply he is more over zealous than a control freak. The 24-hour clock is a convention of time keeping in which the day runs from midnight to midnight and is divided into 24 hours, numbered from 0 to 23. ... John Le Mesurier (Bedford, 5 April 1912 – Ramsgate, 15 November 1983), born John Charles Elton Le Mesurier De Somerys Halliley, was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. ... Napoleon complex (also, Napoleon syndrome or Small Man syndrome) is a colloquial pejorative term used to describe a type of inferiority complex which is said to affect people who are short. ... Chief ARP Warden Bert Hodges, nearly always referred to as Hodges, is a fictional greengrocer and Chief Air Raid Warden portrayed by Bill Pertwee in the BBC television sitcom Dads Army. ... Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (born Napoleone di Buonaparte, changed his name to Napoléon Bonaparte)[1] (15 August 1769; Ajaccio, Corsica – 5 May 1821; Saint Helena) was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... Combatants First French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of the United Netherlands Kingdom of Hanover Duchy of Nassau Duchy of Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Prince William of Orange Strength 73,000 67,000 Coalition 60,000 Prussian... Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... // Room at the Bottom is the sixth episode of the third series of the British comedy series Dads Army that was originally transmitted on Thursday 16 October 1969. ... Command Decision is an episode in the British comedy series Dads Army. ...

Mainwaring is fiercely patriotic, and this can lead to xenophobia on his part (he is not too keen on the French, the Russians, the Americans and, of course, the Germans). Indeed, Mainwaring often refers to Hitler and the Germans as if he is leading his own personal war against them, insisting that "In fact I do wish he'd have a go - I'm spoiling for a fight" in the episode Asleep in the Deep, regarding his desire during an air raid to get out of a bunker and face to face with the attacking Germans (who are, of course, in planes, and thus beyond his reach). Mainwaring's patriotism and eagerness to see combat can also blind him to the follies he is about to engage him or any British failings during the war; whenever Wilson points out a rational and plausible (if somewhat defeatist) outcome to any given scenario, Mainwaring's inevitable response is a dismissive "I don't want to hear any of that sort of talk, Wilson." Patriotism is a feeling of love and devotion to ones own homeland (patria, the land of ones fathers). ... Look up xenophobia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Hitler redirects here. ... Asleesp in the Deep may refer to: Asleep in the Deep (song), by Henry W. Petrie and Arthur J. Lamb Asleep in the Deep (Dads Army episode), an episode of the British sitcom Dads Army Category: ...

However, Mainwaring is not an entirely unlikeable or unsympathetic character; it is made apparent several times over the series that he devotes his energies to his Home Guard unit for a sense of comradeship and purpose that is lacking in other parts of his life, such as his career and marriage. On one notable occasion when his men spurned a parade in order to play darts against the ARP he expressed bewilderment at the men's reluctance, citing that for him coming to the platoon is "the highlight of my day." Most obviously, it is frequently implied that he is trapped in a loveless and unhappy marriage to Elizabeth, his unseen wife, who is clearly quite domineering, neurotic and withholding of affection. For example, in the 5th series episode If the Cap Fits... Mainwaring reveals he is able to play the bagpipes, a skill he learned on his honeymoon in Scotland because "there was nothing else to do". It has been suggested that Drill (military) be merged into this article or section. ... ARP can stand for: Address Resolution Protocol, a layer 3 computer network address discovery protocol Air Raid Precautions, in particular in the United Kingdom during World War II ARP Instruments, Inc. ... Mrs Elizabeth Mainwaring was the highly-strung and reclusive fictional wife of Captain George Mainwaring, of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard, in the BBC TV comedy series Dads Army (1968-77). ... Unseen characters are a theatrical convention. ... If the Cap Fits is the sixth episode of the fifth series of the British television sitcom Dads Army that was originally transmitted on 10 November 1972. ... This article is about the country. ...

Whilst his competence in military matters can be (and frequently is) called into question, his sheer bravery and courage cannot be denied; he is frequently willing to put himself in harm's way for the sake of his country and his platoon, and consistently demonstrates over the course of the series that he is more than willing to take the same risks that he will order his men to undertake. Although his leadership is not always the most competent or efficient, the men serving under him are for the most part extremely loyal and devoted to him. There are also several scenes where Mainwaring is shown as a genuinely kind-hearted man, the most notable example being in his "brief encounter" with Mrs. Gray in the episode Mum's Army. Brief Encounter is a 1945 British film about the morals of British suburban life, centreing on a housewife for whom real love (as opposed to the polite arrangement of her marriage) was an unexpectedly violent thing. ... Mums Army is the ninth episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series Dads Army that was originally transmitted on Friday 20 November 1970. ...

Dad's Army ends with the Second World War still in progress, Mainwaring giving Mrs Fox away as she marries Corporal Jones because her own father is dead. There is little hint provided in the series as to what Mainwaring's fortunes were after the war. However, a proposed radio sequel, It Sticks Out Half a Mile, was to have featured Mainwaring returning to England (having spent two years in Switzerland supervising the manufacture of cuckoo clocks) intending to renovate a decrepit seaside pier, only to have to negotiate a loan with the local bank manager - Arthur Wilson (Arthur Lowe was to have starred, but only recorded a pilot episode before his death). The first episode of Dad's Army also shines some light on Mainwaring's future; briefly set in the then-present day (1968), it features Mainwaring invited as guest-of-honour to the launch of Walmington-on-Sea's 'I'm Backing Britain' campaign, where he is referred to by Wilson as both an alderman and as chairman of the Rotary Club. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Mrs Fox is a minor character, played by the popular actress[1] Pamela Cundell[2] in Dads Army, a hugely popular situation comedy depicting life in wartime England that ran between 1968 and 1977 on BBC TV. In the first episode in which she appears[3] she is seen... Lance Corporal Jack Jones is a fictional Home Guard platoon lance-corporal and butcher portrayed by Clive Dunn in the BBC television sitcom Dads Army. ... It Sticks Out Half a Mile was a BBC Radio sitcom created by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles as a sequel to the television war sitcom Dads Army, for which Snoad and Knowles had written radio adaptations. ... Cuckoo clock, a so-called Jagdstück, Black Forest, ca. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions. ... Logo of Rotary International Rotary International is an organisation whose members comprise Rotary Clubs (service clubs) located all over the world. ...

Catchphrases

"You stupid boy" - his most famous line, to Pike, on average several times an episode.

"Is that you, Jones?" - usually uttered when Jones has donned some outlandish disguise.

"Ah, just waiting to see who'd be the first one to spot that" - whenever a member of the platoon makes a good suggestion that he's missed, or spots an obvious flaw in one of his plans

"Oh, there's no time for that sort of thing"

"Don't be absurd" - Usually in response to a statement that contradicts Mainwaring's delicate British sensibilities.

"Come away Wilson" - Always in response to one of Hodge's tantrums.

"Let's not have any of that sort of talk here" - Whenever a member of the platoon makes a comment even slightly criticising the British or a positive comment about the Germans.

"Good, good" - When told some bad or distressing news which he, at first, does not recognise or comprehend.