Branded (Dad's Army)

"Branded" is the eleventh episode of the third series of the British comedy series Dad's Army. It was originally transmitted on Thursday 20 November 1969.

On a night of programmes devoted to Dad's Army,

Private Godfrey admits to being a conscientious objector during the Great War.

Plot

Following a standard exercise on the stealthy approach to an enemy soldier,

Once the platoon learns of Godfrey's past, opinion is divided. Many, including Jones, are undecided about their response to Godfrey's decision, and some, including Pike and Walker, do not especially care. However, Frazer is characteristically vocal in his condemnation of Godfrey's "cowardice", and has no hesitation in expressing his disgust to Godfrey's face. This is shown when they are out on patrol and Godfrey turns up with some cakes for everyone, they all turn them down (apart from Pike, who happily accepts one but Frazer knocks it out of his hands) and leave him behind. It is decided that Godfrey will remain in the unit until a replacement can be found.

The training drill arrives, during which Warden Hodges will teach the men how to retrieve unconscious bodies (represented by sacks of straw) from burning buildings filled with smoke. Naturally, Mainwaring is unimpressed by the volume of smoke in the building and fills the boiler with burning rags, thus filling the building with far more smoke than safely required. He also informs Godfrey that he has no intention of letting him use his "conchie tricks" to get out of the exercise (not that Godfrey had any intention of trying to get out of it), and intends to follow Godfrey through the hut to make sure that he completes the exercise.

Godfrey completes the exercise and waits outside the hut's exit for Mainwaring. Mainwaring does not appear, despite taking longer to conduct the exercise than expected. Without hesitation, Godfrey re-enters the smoke-filled hut in order to retrieve Mainwaring, who had fainted due to smoke inhalation.

Later, Godfrey recuperates from the training exercise in bed, having also experienced smoke inhalation, and is visited by the entire platoon, having overcome their earlier feelings for him in concern for his health. As Mainwaring attempts to express uncomfortable gratitude to Godfrey for saving his life, he notices a photo of a younger Godfrey, in military uniform, wearing the

Notes

1. Although the entire third series of Dad's Army was produced in colour, the early episodes were first transmitted before the launch of BBC1's colour service on 15 November 1969. "Branded" was the first episode to be transmitted in colour.
2. The episode was repeated on BBC1 in March 1984 as a tribute to Arnold Ridley following his death.

References

Further reading

• Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad's Army. Orion.
  ISBN 0-7528-4637-X
  .

• "Branded" at BBC Online
• "Branded" at
  IMDb