The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones

"The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones" is the fifth episode of the fifth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army. It was originally transmitted on 3 November 1972.

"The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no.Series 5
Episode 5
Directed byDavid Croft
Story byJimmy Perry and David Croft
Produced byDavid Croft
Original air dateFriday 3 November 1972 8.30pm
(recorded Friday 16 June 1972)
Running time30 minutes

Synopsis

The platoon, during the course of a weekend exercise, occupies a deserted barn to be denied to the enemy. As Mainwaring inspects the parade, Jones answers a phonecall from Colonel Pritchard who gives him the 6-digit map reference '937641'. Unfortunately after writing down the first 3 digits, Jones' pencil snaps so he goes in search of a spare. Whilst he's gone, Godfrey answers the phone and writes down the last 3 digits, but puts them in the wrong place so the reference reads 641937. Arriving at the barn a few miles from their destination, Jones' van breaks down, so Mainwaring leaves Jones and Godfrey to guard the vehicles (and also to keep Jones away from the live ammunition) whilst the rest march on.

When Jones rings the exercise HQ to inform them the platoon has arrived, he is told he has got the wrong reference, which turns out to be the target for some 25-pounder artillery guns. Jones signs off laughing that he must have read the numbers wrong, but Godfrey assures him that Mainwaring is at 641937. Jones and Godfrey try phoning to stop the firing, but Godfrey has cut the telephone wire by accident. There is only one solution: Jones will have to reach the barn before it's blown to bits.

Radio episode

Notes

The reason why Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles changed the name of TV episode for radio was because the name "A Question of Reference" (referring to the map reference) meant a bit more than "The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones".[1]

Cast
CharacterTV episodeAudio drama
Capt. George Mainwaring
Arthur Lowe
Sgt. Arthur Wilson
John Le Mesurier
Lcpl. Jack Jones
Clive Dunn
Pte. James Frazer
John Laurie
Pte. Charles Godfrey
Arnold Ridley
Pte. Joe WalkerJames BeckLarry Martyn
Pte. Frank PikeIan Lavender
ARP Warden HodgesBill Pertwee
Rev. Timothy FarthingFrank Williams
Maurice YeatmanEdward Sinclair
Col. PritchardRobert RaglanPeter Williams
Signals PrivateLarry MartynMichael Burlington
Artillery OfficerJames Taylor

References
  1. Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dads Army. Orion. ISBN 0-7528-1838-4

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


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