DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

Section 1 : Main Characters : Chief Air Raid Warden William Hodges

CHARACTER: Chief Air Raid Warden William Hodges

PLAYED BY: Bill Pertwee (60 TV episodes and 33 Radio Shows. Also in all 13 episodes of ‘It Sticks Out Half a Mile’).

FULL NAME: William Hodges

NICKNAMES: Bill, or sometimes Bert. Referred to as Uncle Willy by Scots Nephew Hamish Post war was known as Bert

ADDRESS: Not confirmed, but believed to live above Greengrocer’s Shop in Walmington-on-Sea.

TELEPHONE NUMBER: Not Known

DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: Place not known, presumed to be Walmington area. Date of birth was June 1893.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: About 5’9” in height, medium build, blackish hair about to start going grey, loudly spoken, with a bent nose, which Lance Corporal Jones claimed was from always sticking it into other people’s business. In 1948, almost 8 years later, it seemed he had hardly changed.

HOME GUARD RANK: Not in Home Guard. Joined ARPs on outbreak of war as an Air Raid Warden, and soon after was promoted to Chief Air Raid Warden, rank being indicated by his white helmet and thin yellow bar with thicker bar below on arm of uniform.

CIVILIAN / DAYTIME JOB: Greengrocer during WW2. Was also a Landlord, but we only know of one property he owned, that being Mrs Pike’s residence. In 1948 put a caretaker / manager in shop and started a bit of wheeling and dealing. Later met up with Frank Pike in Frambourne-on-Sea in a venture to refurbish and open up the Frambourne Pier, which he claimed to have visited as a child.

WORK ADDRESS: Hodges Greengrocers, (93) High Street, Walmington-on-Sea. Not much information on business but we know it was next to Frazer’s Funeral Parlour, and was once located at 21 Quay Road, Walmington. Onions seemed in short supply and were 1/- a pound black market

1 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

(retail) being supplied by . Had two shop assistants - Nellie & Mabel. From 1948 work address was Frambourne Pier, Frambourne-on-Sea.

WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER: Not known but definitely had phone in shop. After 1948 work telephone number was Frambourne 272

EDUCATED AT: Not fully known, but we do know he attended at one time Brantly School for Boys near Eastbourne.

QUALIFICATIONS: None identified

KNOWN FAMILY / RELATIVES: Married to Beatrice, but no known children. It would appear Beatrice was quite a well built, beefy lady with varicose veins whom he met in Clydebank during WW1 where she was runner up in a Miss Build a Battle Ship Contest in 1917. Appears to have been quite bossy towards him, and like Mrs Mainwaring, did not venture out much which is probably why we never met her either during the War or his time in Frambourne when she remained in Walmington. Date of marriage would be about 1929 to 1932. After the War she got up at 4am each morning to drive a truck to Covent Garden Market. Hodges claimed they were happy. Had a nephew of Scottish origin called Hamish, and a niece called Sylvia who was in the ATS. Due to different ages and background it is unlikely that they were brother and sister, so we can assume Hodges had at least two siblings. Also known to have an Aunt Ethel who was married to Sigmund Murphy, a former Austrian who lived at the corner of Mortimer Street and was once arrested by the Home Guard Platoon for flashing to enemy aircraft.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES: Rev Timothy Farthing, Verger Maurice Yeatman, Mr Alberts, Gerald and other ARP Colleagues.

KNOWN ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS: Had a soft spot for one of his tenants - Mavis Pike. Admitted he had always fancied her, even overlooking her rent arrears if she was nice to him. This got him into trouble with who hit him. Described by Frazer as a ‘mingy bluebeard’ when his dealings with Mavis came to light. However, it must be said that Mavis did encourage him sometimes by going to darts matches etc. with him. Known to help Mrs Fox with her blackout curtains, and was invited to her wedding as ‘A friend of the Bride!’ Between the Wars in 1929 he was going out with a lady called Myrtle (maiden name not known). During that year they went on a trip to Bognor. Hodges went to get a drink for Myrtle but never came back. Myrtle eventually married a Policeman called Slivey from the Frambourne Force.

PREVIOUS MILITARY CAREER: Served in in WW1, corps / regiment not known. In 1917 may have served alongside Americans under General Pershing, or as Hodges put it, ‘Some Perishing General.’ Also served as a POW Guard, where he learned some German. This could have been in Clydebank where he met Beatrice.

2 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

DECORATIONS: WW1 Medal plus two others. Would have qualified for Defence Medal after 3 years Service with the ARP Organisation.

PREVIOUS BACKGROUND: See details in other sections.

FAVOURITE PHRASES: ‘Put that light out.’. ‘You ruddy hooligans,’ (normally addressing the Home Guard Platoon). ‘You’ve done it this time.’

AILMENTS: Liable to dizzy turns and Heart and Nerve problems. As a result probably also suffered ulcers and high blood pressure. Shape of nose indicated it may have been broken at one time. Had an unexplained injury to bandaged index finger on right hand at time of going to end of Pier to see why the Home Guard were flashing a light there. Banged his head and felt dizzy when in Lance Corporal Jones’ van and he braked suddenly. Platoon’s Smith Gun ran over his foot but despite being in obvious pain, did not seem to suffer any permanent injury. Got thumped on the chin in the church hall by Arthur Wilson when it came to light that he had been trying to date Mavis Pike. In 1948 sustained injuries to a ‘delicate’ part of his anatomy when a turnstile on the Pier jammed whilst he had one leg on one side and one leg on the other side. Once got thumped by a young lady in Frambourne whilst carrying out a survey and she misunderstood the question.

HOBBIES / SPORTS: Undermining the Home Guard Platoon’s war effort. Very proficient cricket bowler, could bowl a superb ‘Yorker’ according to Sergeant Wilson. Unable to swim. Darts. Known to enjoy a flutter on horses with aBookie called Frank, and once bet Captain Mainwaring £5 that he could hit a mine off the Pier with a wooden ball - Hodges won! Sergeant Wilson dryly observed he could bowl even better with his clothes on. Tried to join the Rotary Club in Frambourne in 1948 but after attending a cocktail party found it was all too ‘La Di Da’ for him. Member of local Chamber of Commerce in Walmington during War. Represented the ‘Breakaway Committee’ and told Captain Mainwaring they wanted the Honourable Arthur to make the presentation at the forthcoming visit of a Hero of the .

PETS: None identified.

VEHICLES OWNED: Green Bedford Box Van based on the KD Series, and bearing the Reg. PMP 782. The van was sign written for his business. (See separate file - Hodges’ van). Had a motor cycle and sidecar combination Reg. JVB 54 for ARP Duties. Also had another sidecar combination Reg. No: ATO 574 at one time, which had been commandeered to chase a runaway experimental wheel packed with explosive. Once commandeered Mr Bluett’s tricycle and a tourist’s tandem to help in chasing a runaway barrage balloon. Also had a bicycle.

CHARACTERISTICS: Vain, abrasive, obnoxious, contemptuous, nasty, sneaky, devious, (admitted he used Pike for his connection to Arthur Wilson to get loan for Pier in 1948), loved getting people into trouble. Was also a bully and a coward. Admitted he enjoyed the War and never enjoyed anything so much as being Chief 3 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

Warden. Once described by Lance Corporal Jones as being a blabbermouth after a couple of pints when he was in the Red Lion. Described as „yellow‟ by Frazer and Jones. However, it must be said by 1948 he had mellowed somewhat but was still as devious as ever.

ECCENTRICITIES: Dirty fingernails, which he still had in 1948. Hatred of Captain Mainwaring and his Home Guard Platoon. Even had Captain Mainwaring earmarked as a potential defector if the Germans invaded, not knowing that Captain Mainwaring had him down as a potential defector. Passed gossip in his shop. Liked ‘Certain shows’ as during visit to in 1948 saw show at the Windmill Theatre 3 times in one night!

FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION: Often referred to a a loud and obnoxious man, but in reality he was just ‘doing his job’ as best he knew how. He did not worry that he upset anyone - he had an important and safety related job to do. Unfortunately any enemies he made as an ARP Warden carried over into his social life. Once described by Godfrey as being corrupted with power, and told by Godfrey later in the war that he was the most common, rude and vulgar man he had ever encountered. Conversely, on another occasion, Mr Godfrey said that he thought Mr Hodges ran the Civil Defence very well and it was a very dangerous job. Jones and Frazer once described him as having a yellow streak a foot wide down his back. Admitted that he enjoyed the war and the power of being Chief Warden. As to why he and his pals, the Vicar and the Verger, wanted to sabotage the Home Guard’s efforts when the rest of the country were all united against the common foe was never established. He would undermine them at every opportunity, even trying on one occasion to cause a miscarriage of justice against Captain Mainwaring. Perhaps the fact that Mr Mainwaring refused him a Bank Loan to enlarge his store in the very early days of the war may have been a factor. He once claimed that any enemy of Mainwaring was a friend of his. He admitted himself he was the most hated man in Walmington, but it must be said, however, that he did his Warden’s job to the letter, even though, a little bit of flexibility would not have gone amiss. His nephew Hamish was just as obnoxious. He did eventually admit that he was fighting for his country the same as captain Mainwaring was, but at the time he had Captain Mainwaring’s pistol pointing at him. Despite his hatred of the Home Guard, Hodges was not averse to using Walker’s black-market activities to boost his stock, which if he had got his loan, would have been hoarded in his new storeroom. Stated once he would not allow Walker in his shop as he would cheat the customers - Walker sarcastically replying “that would make two of us.” Once short changed a man who drove a van similar to his, and got hit when the man later saw Hodges on an exercise with the Home Guard out in the countryside. Known to put best tomatoes at front and give out bad ones from rear. Arthur Wilson once alleged his dirty fingernails were from putting dirt on the potatoes to make them weigh more. Always seemed to come off worst against the Home Guard, an example being when he went to tell them about a light they were showing at the end of the Pier, and he ended up in the sea, ruining the uniform which had been issued to him that afternoon after a 1 year wait. Once said he would rather serve under Captain Bligh, or, on another occasion, be aged 107, rather than serve under Captain Mainwaring. Jones used steak, liver and sausages to bribe people, Hodges used onions, even once using them to get the Vicar to cut his sermons to eight minutes (including getting in and out the pulpit). Onions were so black- market he paid Joe Walker £50 for half a ton of the things but they were left in Lance Corporal Jones‟s van, and Hodges and the Verger had to follow the platoon to a weekend camp to retrieve them. In spite of the foregoing once said he would not have drunk a cup of tea he had just had if he had known Joe Walker had supplied the tea. Donated three oranges for auction at a Bazaar, and withdrew one when it looked like Captain Mainwaring may get it for his wife. He was then quite happy to watch Captain

4 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

Mainwaring bid against himself to get the orange for 10/-. Unfortunately the oranges were for making marmalade. He was also vain, telling the Vicar that he thought he had been saved for a purpose when a bomb hit the pub he had been drinking in and failed to explode. Swore to the Vicar he would now stop giving short weight, hiding rotten tomatoes behind the good ones and clean the soil off the potatoes when weighing them. It is unlikely he ever did! He was a lucky fellow as he was in the pub on another occasion when his Warden’s HQ was blown up. Occasional smoker. Could not stand fatty soup. Once locked up in PoW Camp along with Home Guard platoon by Polish Forces, when it was thought they were friends of an escaped prisoner, Lance Corporal Jones’ face having been put on the Wanted poster for the escapee by mistake at the printers. Despite his mellowing, even in 1948, Arthur Wilson thought Hodges would ‘Lend the Mob a hand if busy!‘ Thought Archimedes principle was a ‘New fangled idea.’ Had face blackened by French General who kissed him during a visit to Walmington and had black paint on his hands from the Mayor’s newly sprayed Rolls Royce.

POST WAR: Rumoured to have put a Caretaker / Manager in the Greengrocer’s shop, whilst in 1948 he became involved with Mr Wilson and Mr Pike in the business venture involving the refurbishment of Frambourne Pier (see file on Frambourne Pier for more details.) He had even elevated himself to drinking gin and tonics by then instead of pale ales. Despite the Fortune Teller Madame Zara thinking he should be respected for business decisions, it would appear the venture was not successful and nothing is really known about what happened to Hodges afterwards. According to Mr Gordon the Ex-Town Clerk, a Theme Park in Walmington was going to be named after either Hodges or Alderman Mainwaring. As always, Hodges lost out!!

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