The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage

"The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no.	Series Two Episode 008
Directed by	David Croft
Story by	Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Produced by	David Croft
Original air date	Saturday 8/3/69 7.00pm (recorded Sunday 20/10/68)
Running time	30 minutes

"The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage" is an episode in the British comedy series Dad's Army, which was originally transmitted on Saturday 8 March 1969.

Synopsis

The church bells are to be removed to provide metal for the war effort, so the vicar has one last ring before they are removed. After the church bells ring (which is the signal indicating the start of a German invasion), Mainwaring, Wilson, Jones, Frazer, Pike and Walker all go to Godfrey's cottage and start fighting the "Germans."

Plot

While most of the platoon are on their way to the cinema to see a training film, the church bells ring, and Mainwaring, Jones and Frazer take up a defensive position at Godfrey's cottage. Wilson, Pike, Walker and Sponge can't find the others, and, leaving Sponge behind at the command post, head to Godfrey's cottage. There they see Jones, wearing one of Godfrey's old German helmets, and fire at him. Meanwhile, Godfrey's sisters shake a tablecloth out of the window, which is interpreted by Wilson as a surrender. In the end, Sponge starts firing on Mainwaring and Wilson.

Notes

1. This episode was missing from the BBC's television archives for many years and was thought to be lost for ever. However, in June 2001 this episode and Operation Kilt were returned to the BBC after almost 25 years. The containers that the episodes were held in were in a terrible condition and the film was badly deteriorated. Following laborious work by BBC technicians, it was restored and re-transmitted.
2. This episode was originally titled 'The Battle of Mon Repos'.

Cast

• Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring
• John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson
• Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones
• John Laurie as Private Frazer
• James Beck as Private Walker
• Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey
• Ian Lavender as Private Pike
• Janet Davies as Mrs Pike
• Amy Dalby as Dolly
• Nan Braunton as Cissy
• Bill Pertwee as ARP Warden Hodges
• Colin Bean as Private Sponge

Radio episode

"The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no.	Series One Episode 005
Story by	Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles
Produced by	John Dyas
Original air date	Monday 25/2/74, 6.15pm (recorded Friday 6/7/73)
Running time	30 minutes

External links

• "The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage" at BBC Programmes
• "The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage" at IMDb
• "The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage" at TV.com