Bit self indulgent but 'Godfreys' experiences in WW1 with Somerset Light Infantry are here in short form and well worth reading and he also ends up with the BEF in 1940 and at Dunkirk, which apparently is a bit of a mystery as to exactly how he got back into army ,who he was with and what they did. Arnold Ridley particularly like - Ridley was sent back to England and spent some time at Woodcote Park Military Hospital before appearing before the British Army Travelling Medical Board. The doctor suggested that the wound to his hand might have been self-inflicted. Ripley replied: "Yes, sir. My battalion is famous for self-inflicted wounds and just to make sure I cracked my skull with a rifle butt as well and ran a bayonet into my groin."
If you have a look at this thread: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv-radio/13707-dads-army-they-dont-like-up-em-etc-4.html#post469234 you will see that I've acquired (very cheaply) a copy of the book by Bill Pertwee, If you look at the image below there is more detail about Arnold's wounds from WW1 Ron
Info about his role in BEF as a Conducting Officer and evacuation from Boulogne on Vimiera here; Dad's Army - Arnold Ridley's Real Wars
Excellent , wasn't the luckiest chap was he , when finally well clear of the army, badly wounded by a doodlebug in his own garden !
Info about his role in BEF as a Conducting Officer and evacuation from Boulogne on Vimiera here; Dad's Army - Arnold Ridley's Real Wars Thanks for that link, particularly this quote: When asked about his wartime memories in comparison to his role in Dad’s Army, Arnold once said “There’s bound to be a certain amount of nostalgia. You look back on things and they never seem quite so bad, but that is because you’re now safe from them; you even forget it was pouring with rain. But as for humour, war has never been a funny thing to me. It has a certain macabre humour in it - that is all. The English soldier would do anything rather than be sentimental. He would portray himself as anything rather than a hero. He sees himself as a poor so-and-so. ‘Roll on when I get my furlough - roll on when I get my pass.’ ”
I had heard Ridley was badly wounded at the Somme but didn't know he was at Dunkirk as well! Thanks for posting those links.
Just a suggestion for anyone interested in knowing more of Arnold Ridley with the SLI Pen and Sword Books: Famous by Richard Van Emden, Vic Piuk
great thread! I'll add to it if I may? Another of the Dad's army crew, Arthur Low was a Captain in the 6th Seaforth highlanders, which is the action I'm studying, who fought alongside the RSF in 1940. In fact he was recomended for his work with the mortars, don't know if he was awarded the MC, but here is the letter of recomendation. amazing fellows!
Iain Is that the right chap? I thought Le Mesurier had 'outranked' him in real life. Of course this is wiki ... Arthur Lowe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lowe’s original intention was to join the Merchant Navy but this idea was thwarted because of his poor eyesight. Working at an aircraft factory he joined the British Army on the eve of the Second World War, but not before experiencing his first brush with the acting world by working as a stagehand at the Manchester Palace of Varieties. Lowe served in the Middle East with the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, and began to take part in shows put on for the troops, which appears to have sparked his desire to act. He left the Army at the end of the war with the rank of Sergeant Major. The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Name Low, Arthur Eric Rank: Captain, Temporary Major Service No: 66574 Regiment: 6 Seaforth Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy Award: Bar to Military Cross Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 29 June 1944 Date 1944 Catalogue reference WO 373/6
Few years ago one of the military history magazines did a fascinating article on the Dads Army cast's military service, should have kept the mag! . Almost the entire cast had seen active service in WW1 or WW2 even 'young' Beck had done National Service. Hugh Laurie 'Frazer' had been badly wounded in WW1 trench fighting and Clive Dunn 'Jones' was captured in Greece 1941. I seem to remember Arthur LOWE served in the army WW11 in some technical role ( maybe because of his poor eyesight) and was a sergeant . Good article here by Ridley's son recalling some of his dads WW1 and WW11 experiences ;- Read more: Dad's Army actor Arnold Ridley's son on how the show belittled his father's awesome heroism | Mail Online Then aged 20, he vividly remembered marching three miles in a rainstorm and waiting half an hour, soaked to the skin, until the regimental sergeant-major emerged to call the recruits to attention. 'Don't none of you think you're going to see your homes and mothers and dads no more 'cause you ain't,' he barked. 'We sent out a draft to our First Battalion at Wipers three weeks ago and where are they now? I'll tell yer - they're all bleeding well dead! And that's where you buggers will be in a couple o' months time - all bleeding dead
Info about his role in BEF as a Conducting Officer and evacuation from Boulogne on Vimiera here; Dad's Army - Arnold Ridley's Real Wars Anyone know the actual unit/formation he was with?
Dad's Army star's First World War heroics - Telegraph John Le Mesurier Times : John le Mesurier wishes it to be known that he conked out on 15 November. He sadly misses family and friends
An absolute 'must listen' radio programme on the service career of Arnold Ridley. Terrific stuff. BBC iPlayer - Excusing Private Godfrey
It was indeed a nice little programme. Good interview with the son, without his previous moaning about Dad's Army 'belittling' his Dad.
Have you found out yet ? To other members we been chatting & I sent him LG pages. Mentioned on here. Arnold Ridley - Wikipedia
The following news items refer Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 13 January 1940 Mr Arnold Ridley `Ghost Train` author is serving in France ,Filming the war ....Mr Ridley is an expert film producer as well as a playright. Newcastle Journal 03 January 1940 War Correspondent J L Hodson remarks that Arnold Ridley is one of their Conducting Officers ,who liase with the Army and lay on what the correspondents need without upseting the Army and keeping them out of mischief? Full name William Arnold Ridley France 1940 Son of Dad's Army's Private Godfrey tells of the real war horrors he endured Cap badge General service Corps? Kyle
