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Private Charles Godfrey

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Private Charles Godfrey DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather Section 1 : Main Characters : Private Charles Godfrey CHARACTER Charles Godfrey PLAYED BY Arnold Ridley OBE FULL NAME Charles P. Godfrey NICKNAME None established ADDRESS Cherry Tree Cottage, Cherry Tree Lane, Walmington-on-Sea (For more information on Cottage, see separate file - Cherry Tree Cottage). TELEPHONE NUMBER Walmington 223. Phone was cut off once for not paying bill. DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH Place probably Walmington, date could vary from 1865 to 1875. BRIEF DESCRIPTION About 5’4” in height, of medium/stocky build, round face, bald head with silvery/grey slightly bushy hair at sides. Had a slight stoop, and was a bit slow on his feet. Very politely spoken. HOME GUARD RANK Private - Platoon Medical Orderly. Briefly promoted to Sergeant when Private Pike mis-typed the Platoon Orders CIVILIAN/DAYTIME JOB Retired, but apart from WW1 service, his working life was spent at the Civil Service Stores / Army & Navy Stores where he worked in both the Sports and Gent’s Outfitting, being at least 25 years with the latter. Did work as a Father Christmas at Palmer’s and was locked in one Christmas Eve during the war. WORK ADDRESS Formerly at the Civil Service Stores / Army & Navy Stores. EDUCATED AT Not confirmed, but being a long time resident would suggest local schools in Walmington. KNOWN FAMILY/RELATIVES. Had two sisters, Dolly and Cissy, with whom he lived at Cherry Tree Cottage. None of them ever married. Father died a few years before WW2 leaving them the Cottage. They also had an Aunt Ella who lived in a Cottage close to a crossroads in the nearby area. (Telephone No: Walmington 302). Also at one time had an Aunt Lavinia who gave him a pen knife when he was 12 years old. 1 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather KNOWN ASSOCIATES Did not seem to have many friends, but did have one who lent him a rifle on the formation of the LDV. Probably the only time Godfrey defied Captain Mainwaring, as he refused to hand it over. Another friend from the early days of the War could have supplied the platoon with free rubber tyres, much to Private Walker’s annoyance. This could have been Mrs Prentice at the farm, who is mentioned in next paragraph. These tyres were to be cut up and used as shoulder protectors. He seemed to have a ‘bond’ with Private Frazer who liked to phone him up nightly with the days news and gossip. KNOWN ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS In younger days had an affair with a girl in service, whose parents lived in a bungalow. This appeared to fizzle out and she married a farmer by the name of Prentice. They met again during WW2 and the Home Guard platoon helped her to bring in the harvest, as she was then widowed and her foreman was poorly. May have continued to visit her occasionally. PREVIOUS MILITARY CAREER During WW1 Godfrey was a Conscientious Objector, but did join the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Was decorated for bravery during the Battle of the Somme for rescuing wounded soldiers and awarded the Military Medal. DECORATIONS Military Medal, 1914 -18 Star, Somme Medal?? plus one other. Dolly used to clean medals using powdered chalk and vinegar. PREVIOUS BACKGROUND As previously stated. Appears to have lived in Walmington all his life, and his entire working life apart from service during WW1, appears to have been within the Civil Service Stores. FAVOURITE PHRASE “May I be excused?” AILMENTS A regular attendee at the local Clinic, suffering from rheumatism, gout, piles and a weak bladder. His bladder problem often led to him asking to be excused at the most awkward times. He was also known to fall asleep at the most inconvenient of moments. Sometimes had to take precautions against sunburn. Sandwiches and cheese gave him indigestion. Low capacity for alcohol, especially home made wine. Claimed bangs gave him a terrible headache, and that he could feel queasy on the Serpentine. Frazer once wanted to break Godfrey’s leg so he would be unable to go on an exercise and slow the platoon down. Did not like heights. PETS Kept a very obstreperous old parrot called Percy left by his father and a large cat. Godfrey did not get on with dogs. Despite this, did at one time have a Pekinese that reacted badly to the smell of turkey giblets being boiled. Godfrey was once chased by a fierce looking ram. HOBBIES/SPORTS Opera, gardening and beekeeping. Had his own apiary in the garden. When younger enjoyed whittling with his penknife. Despite his age, was able to hit a six during a cricket match against the Wardens to claim victory for the Home Guard. Also played cricket for Civil Service Gent’s Department team during his 2 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather working days. Bowling. Played in a Show Troupe at work called the Gay Gondoliers. Listened to Home Service, his favourite on Radio. VEHICLES OWNED None, unable to drive. L/Cpl Jones did give him an impromptu driving lesson in an emergency during a live artillery firing exercise. CHARACTERISTICS A very polite and well spoken gentleman, who always saw the good side of people, perhaps with the exception of Chief Warden Hodges, whom he believed to be corrupted with power. There was always a welcoming smile for visitors to the Cottage. He was an upright principled member of the community, who preferred not to believe gossip. He was kind almost to the point of naivety. ECCENTRICITIES He always believed in dressing for the occasion, even if it meant going to a Platoon Dance as if dressed for the opera. Believed a gentleman was not properly dressed unless wearing gloves. Always wore his Panama hat for gardening, and would think nothing of turning up for manoeuvres with flowery patterned bedding or a picnic hamper. Admitted he could never bring himself to kill a mouse or eat a hedgehog. Enjoyed a drink of hot milk before retiring to bed. Spoke one phrase of Italian from the Opera Don Giovanni, about “Your tiny hand is frozen.” Despite having the Military Medal, thought the actual wearing of medals was ostentatious, much to the embarrassment of L/Cpl Jones. Could give a good rendition about a ‘Monk of High Renown’ if been drinking. FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION Godfrey was a very loyal member of the Home Guard Platoon, and considered Mainwaring as a ‘Pillar of Respectability’. Captain Mainwaring returned this loyalty to a certain extent, but turned against Godfrey when he revealed that he had been a ‘Conchie’ in WW1 and wished to leave the Home Guard. He was also shunned for a while by the others in the platoon until he rescued Captain Mainwaring from a smoke filled hut during an exercise. Whilst visiting him afterwards, the platoon were astounded to find out that he had been awarded the MM in WW1. He later repeated this latent bravery, by going to help Private Pike who was stuck in barbed wire on the shore by a minefield with a rapidly incoming tide. He also surprised his colleagues by hitting a US Serviceman with a chair who had stood on his sister Dolly’s upside down cakes!! It is somewhat difficult to put an exact age to Godfrey but in any calculation, he would have been well above the average soldiers’ age in WW1, being at least 40, which could have been a disadvantage to him. Had a negligent discharge with his rifle in early days of Home Guard but this seems to have been covered up by the platoon. POST WAR Not a great deal of information is known about Godfrey after the War. It was rumoured that his health continued to deteriorate and he died a few years later. However, someone very similar to Godfrey, but much frailer, was spotted at an “I’m Backing Britain” Dinner in Walmington in 1968. Perhaps the Gentleman Hero was more durable than he looked. 3.
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