Private Charles Godfrey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of the article are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please include more appropriate citations from reliable sources, or discuss the issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since December 2007. |
For the American football player see Charles Godfrey (American football)
| Dad's Army character | |
| Private Charles Godfrey MM | |
| Affiliated with | Home Guard |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Retired tailor |
| First appearance | The Man and the Hour |
| Last appearance | Never Too Old |
| Portrayed by | Arnold Ridley |
Private Charles Godfrey MM is a fictional Home Guard platoon member and retired tailor portrayed by Arnold Ridley on the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army.
[edit] Personality
Godfrey is a gentle, mild-mannered and kindly - though more complex than is evident - old man. The oldest member of the platoon, he is the only member that has retired. In the episode "Branded", it becomes clear that he was a conscientious objector in World War I, a revelation that initially makes him an outsider. However, after saving Mainwaring's life, his sister reveals that, far from avoiding service, he in fact served with distinction as a stretcher bearer with the Royal Army Medical Corps, and heroically saved several men's lives during the Battle of the Somme (an accomplishment he plays down modestly), earning him the Military Medal. This led to him being promoted to First Aid supervisor of the platoon. As it happens Arnold Ridley had actually served with the Somerset Light Infantry in World War I and fought in the Battle of the Somme where he was severely wounded. The after effects of these injuries gave a practical reason for his promotion as it was much easier for Ridley to carry the first aid bag than a heavy rifle). He is a long standing friend of Sergeant Wilson, and in the episode "High Finance" he lends Wilson a large sum of money when Mrs Pike is blackmailed by Hodges.
He lives in picturesque Cherry Tree Cottage with his hard-of-hearing sisters, Dolly and Cissy, whom he is clearly very fond of and often brings them up in conversation. When there is any need for provisions, his sister Dolly often provides upside-down cakes.
He is immensely loyal to Captain Mainwaring, who often feels quite guilty whenever he has criticised Godfrey:
- Mainwaring: "If you're not fit for active service, perhaps you shouldn't come at all."
- Godfrey: "I didn't want to disappoint you, sir."
- Mainwaring: "Well done Godfrey."
- from the episode "Everybody's Trucking".
He served for forty years in the Army department of the Civil Service Stores as a tailor. An aspect of his old age is his weak bladder, which lets him down and postpones all platoon activity, hence his catchphrase, "Might I be excused, sir?", and his tendency to fall asleep can be similarly categorized; "I must have dozed off!".
|
||||||||||||||
