Sergeant Arthur Wilson
Encyclopedia
Sergeant The Honourable Arthur Wilson is a fictional Home Guard
platoon sergeant and bank clerk portrayed by John Le Mesurier
on the BBC
television situation comedy
Dad's Army
.
Wilson is carefree, cheerful and well-spoken, although more complex than he first seems. He has a mysterious aura, a vague and dreamy personality. In appearance, he resembles Anthony Eden
. He is a kind man, who goes with the flow of life. He is chief cashier of Walmington-on-Sea bank, and captain of the cricket club.
Captain Mainwaring
, Wilson's senior in the Home Guard and in the bank, compared Wilson with Peter Pan
, because he could never face responsibilities. These included Private Frank Pike
, who worships his "Uncle Arthur" but may be Wilson's son — Wilson has a relationship with Mavis Pike, Frank's mother. It is gossip in Walmington-on-Sea
, as both arrived in Walmington from Weston-super-Mare
around the same time, and there are other "coincidences", that Wilson and Mrs Pike are more than "just close friends". It is assumed their affair began many years ago. It is revealed in Getting the Bird
that Wilson is married but that his wife left him. He has a daughter from his marriage.
Wilson's dream-like state is leads to mimicry by the platoon, mostly Walker and Fraser, but he remains liked by those under him, and is admired by many (usually Jones, Godfrey, and most of all Pike). Rather than bark orders as a sergeant would be expected to do, he asks "would you mind awfully falling in please?"
Tension and comedy between Wilson and Mainwaring is heightened by their difference in social class: Wilson had an upper-middle class childhood and a public school education, prompting resentment from the lower-class Mainwaring who had to work his way up and views Wilson as having it easy. Mainwaring frequently emphasises his superior rank in the bank and in the Home Guard to maintain his authority and superiority over Wilson. Wilson undermines his superior through casual charm and frequent concern at Mainwaring's plans, querying "Do you really think that's wise, sir?" The contrasts are established in several ways: as a civilian, Mainwaring wears a bowler hat
while Wilson wears a more fashionable Anthony Eden hat
. In The Honourable Man
, Wilson became "The Honourable
Arthur Wilson" after an uncle, a peer, died, making him a member of the aristocracy. Mainwaring tried to stay centre of attention; Wilson detested his elevation in social rank and the pressures it forced on him, which only infuriated Mainwaring more, as he believed one should revel in titles of nobility rather than be ashamed of them.
Conflict between the two reached a head in A. Wilson (Manager)?
, in which Wilson is promoted to be manager of another branch and also to Second Lieutenant in a neighbouring Home Guard Unit. Wilson finds that his promotion would have happened long ago but for Mainwaring's telling his superiors he wasn't up to it. Mainwaring's resentment of Wilson's breeding is revealed. Wilson's new branch is bombed, so he has to return to Walmington. His sign "Arthur Wilson, Manager" is among the debris. Wilson's first concern is whether he can keep his rank (Second Lieutenant). "Of course", replies Mainwaring, and throws him the sergeant's stripes.
Wilson thinks Mainwaring a pompous fool,in which in one epsiode , Wilson reminded Mainwaring when he first wore his captain's uniform he saw him walking up and down the high street all afternoon trying to find someone to salute him but he had to make do with a sea scout troop. However they remain friends. Wilson provides a more realistic and down-to-earth appraisal of a situation than Mainwaring, who is blinded by pomposity and patriotism, as demonstrated in this exchange:
However, when pushed, a different Wilson emerges. In High Finance
, it emerges during an enquiry that Warden Hodges has been forcing his attentions on Mrs Pike by blackmailing her with a rent increase; Wilson reacts by punching Hodges in the face, to the adoration of Mrs Pike and Frank
. He is the only member of the platoon to be physically violent, as in Absent Friends
when Pike, Jones, Fraiser, Walker and Mainwaring attempt to subdue three IRA members and are beaten off. Wilson defeats them singlehandedly with only bruised knuckles to show for it.
In the final episode, Wilson turns up at the wedding of Jones and Mrs Fox in a captain's uniform, having achieved the rank of Captain during the First World War. He was modest about it (in the first episode Wilson claims to have been a Sergeant
in the Royal Artillery) and Mainwaring was pleasantly surprised — although he insisted that "it doesn't change anything, you know". (Ironically during the Second World War, John Le Mesurier who played Wilson had been a Captainwhile Arthur Lowe who played Mainwaring had been a Sergeant Major.)
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British Home Guard
The Home Guard was a defence organisation of the British Army during the Second World War...
platoon sergeant and bank clerk portrayed by John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier was a BAFTA Award-winning English actor. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army.-Career:...
on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
.
Wilson is carefree, cheerful and well-spoken, although more complex than he first seems. He has a mysterious aura, a vague and dreamy personality. In appearance, he resembles Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
. He is a kind man, who goes with the flow of life. He is chief cashier of Walmington-on-Sea bank, and captain of the cricket club.
Captain Mainwaring
Captain George Mainwaring
Captain George Mainwaring is the bank manager and Home Guard platoon commander portrayed by Arthur Lowe on the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army, set in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea during the Second World War...
, Wilson's senior in the Home Guard and in the bank, compared Wilson with Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
, because he could never face responsibilities. These included Private Frank Pike
Private Frank Pike
Private Frank Pike is a fictional Home Guard platoon member and junior bank clerk portrayed by Ian Lavender in the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army. He is frequently referred to by Captain Mainwaring as "stupid boy".- Personality :...
, who worships his "Uncle Arthur" but may be Wilson's son — Wilson has a relationship with Mavis Pike, Frank's mother. It is gossip in Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea is a fictional seaside resort where the BBC Television sitcom, BBC radio series and film Dad's Army was based.Located on the channel coast of England in the county of Kent, the national "front line" following the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk during...
, as both arrived in Walmington from Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
around the same time, and there are other "coincidences", that Wilson and Mrs Pike are more than "just close friends". It is assumed their affair began many years ago. It is revealed in Getting the Bird
Getting The Bird
"Getting the Bird" is the fourth episode of the fifth series of the British television situation comedy Dad's Army and was originally transmitted on 27 October 1972.-Synopsis:...
that Wilson is married but that his wife left him. He has a daughter from his marriage.
Wilson's dream-like state is leads to mimicry by the platoon, mostly Walker and Fraser, but he remains liked by those under him, and is admired by many (usually Jones, Godfrey, and most of all Pike). Rather than bark orders as a sergeant would be expected to do, he asks "would you mind awfully falling in please?"
Tension and comedy between Wilson and Mainwaring is heightened by their difference in social class: Wilson had an upper-middle class childhood and a public school education, prompting resentment from the lower-class Mainwaring who had to work his way up and views Wilson as having it easy. Mainwaring frequently emphasises his superior rank in the bank and in the Home Guard to maintain his authority and superiority over Wilson. Wilson undermines his superior through casual charm and frequent concern at Mainwaring's plans, querying "Do you really think that's wise, sir?" The contrasts are established in several ways: as a civilian, Mainwaring wears a bowler hat
Bowler hat
The bowler hat, also known as a coke hat, derby , billycock or bombin, is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown originally created in 1849 for the English soldier and politician Edward Coke, the younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester...
while Wilson wears a more fashionable Anthony Eden hat
Anthony Eden hat
An "Anthony Eden" hat, or simply an "Anthony Eden", was a silk-brimmed, black felt Homburg of the kind favoured in the 1930s by Anthony Eden, later 1st Earl of Avon . Eden was a Cabinet Minister in the British National Government, holding the offices of Lord Privy Seal from 1934–35 and Foreign...
. In The Honourable Man
The Honourable Man
The Honourable Man is the fifth episode of the sixth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on the 28 November 1973.-Synopsis:...
, Wilson became "The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Arthur Wilson" after an uncle, a peer, died, making him a member of the aristocracy. Mainwaring tried to stay centre of attention; Wilson detested his elevation in social rank and the pressures it forced on him, which only infuriated Mainwaring more, as he believed one should revel in titles of nobility rather than be ashamed of them.
Conflict between the two reached a head in A. Wilson (Manager)?
A. Wilson (Manager)?
A. Wilson ? is the eleventh episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Friday 4 December 1970.- Synopsis :...
, in which Wilson is promoted to be manager of another branch and also to Second Lieutenant in a neighbouring Home Guard Unit. Wilson finds that his promotion would have happened long ago but for Mainwaring's telling his superiors he wasn't up to it. Mainwaring's resentment of Wilson's breeding is revealed. Wilson's new branch is bombed, so he has to return to Walmington. His sign "Arthur Wilson, Manager" is among the debris. Wilson's first concern is whether he can keep his rank (Second Lieutenant). "Of course", replies Mainwaring, and throws him the sergeant's stripes.
Wilson thinks Mainwaring a pompous fool,in which in one epsiode , Wilson reminded Mainwaring when he first wore his captain's uniform he saw him walking up and down the high street all afternoon trying to find someone to salute him but he had to make do with a sea scout troop. However they remain friends. Wilson provides a more realistic and down-to-earth appraisal of a situation than Mainwaring, who is blinded by pomposity and patriotism, as demonstrated in this exchange:
- Mainwaring: They'll never get through the Maginot LineMaginot LineThe Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
. - Wilson: Haven't you heard... They went around the side.
- Mainwaring: That's a typical shabby Nazi trick!
However, when pushed, a different Wilson emerges. In High Finance
High Finance
High Finance is the fifth episode of the eighth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally broadcast on the 3 October 1975.-Synopsis:...
, it emerges during an enquiry that Warden Hodges has been forcing his attentions on Mrs Pike by blackmailing her with a rent increase; Wilson reacts by punching Hodges in the face, to the adoration of Mrs Pike and Frank
Private Frank Pike
Private Frank Pike is a fictional Home Guard platoon member and junior bank clerk portrayed by Ian Lavender in the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army. He is frequently referred to by Captain Mainwaring as "stupid boy".- Personality :...
. He is the only member of the platoon to be physically violent, as in Absent Friends
Absent Friends (Dad's Army episode)
Absent Friends is the sixth episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Friday 30 October 1970.-Synopsis:...
when Pike, Jones, Fraiser, Walker and Mainwaring attempt to subdue three IRA members and are beaten off. Wilson defeats them singlehandedly with only bruised knuckles to show for it.
In the final episode, Wilson turns up at the wedding of Jones and Mrs Fox in a captain's uniform, having achieved the rank of Captain during the First World War. He was modest about it (in the first episode Wilson claims to have been a Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the Royal Artillery) and Mainwaring was pleasantly surprised — although he insisted that "it doesn't change anything, you know". (Ironically during the Second World War, John Le Mesurier who played Wilson had been a Captainwhile Arthur Lowe who played Mainwaring had been a Sergeant Major.)
Medals
Although Sergeant Wilson rarely wore his medals, he had previously been awarded them as an officer in the First World War.