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Dad's Army
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. A film version starring Toby Jones, Bill Nighy and Catherine Zeta-Jones was released in 2016.
The following weapons were used in the television 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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Weapons
Smith Gun
A Smith Gun, ad hoc anti-tank artillery piece issued to Home Guards, is seen in "We Know Our Onions".
QF 13-pounder gun
A QF 13-pounder (76.2mm) gun is seen in "Big Guns". This outdated (issued in 1904) gun of Royal Horse Artillery really found some usage in Home Guards in 1940.
