Let's celebrate our real-life war hero and Dad's Army star Arnold Ridley
A campaign to commemorate a war hero and star of the popular TV sitcom Dad's Army is gathering support in Bath.
Arnold Ridley was born and raised in Bath, and shot to fame with his role as Private Charles Godfrey, the gentle platoon medic in the hit television show.
David Seymour, who lives in the city, is keen to see a plaque put up in his memory.
The veteran actor also fought during two world wars and suffered bad injuries at the Battle of the Somme, including a permanently paralysed left arm, a bayonet wound in his thigh, and a rifle butt to the head from which he had lifelong headaches.
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Away from the war Mr Ridley, who died in 1984 at the age of 88, was a successful playwright, best known for TheGhost Train.
Mr Seymour said: "Many men were very badly affected after surviving World War One. Arnold Ridley was one of those few who survived and thereafter lived his life for the good of the community of Bath, putting his disabilities to the background.
"There are commemorative plaques on houses in Bath for people who in my mind are of less importance to Bath than Arnold Ridley, who appears to have been largely forgotten, apart from the fact that he was Private Godfrey in Dad's Army, a part for which he would not wish to be remembered over what he did in his real life."
The campaign has the backing of Ghost Train fan Councillor Bryan Chalker (Con, Lambridge) and the English Heritage Foundation.
It was hoped that a plaque could be put up on Mr Ridley's childhood home in Greenway Lane, in Widcombe, but there are plans to demolish it and build four homes on the site.
One possible location for the plaque is The Rec, because Mr Ridley was club president from 1950 to 1952, and made a life member in 1965.
Another idea is for a commemoration at his grave in the Abbey Cemetery in Widcombe.
Comments
by rogerh3
Sunday, November 04 2012, 6:54PM
“Dad's Army star's First World War heroics"
http://tinyurl.com/ce25qb7
.”
by jezer
Sunday, November 04 2012, 5:34PM
“Yes, his sister Dolly, I wonder if she was actually real? I doubt it, but she was certainly a good foil for his comedy lines.”
by AbandonShip
Saturday, November 03 2012, 11:36PM
“Somebody should ask his sister Dolly”
by rogerh3
Saturday, November 03 2012, 10:29PM
“Surely the whole point of putting up a plaque is to inform people (of all ages) of something of which they are unaware. No reason why it shouldn't go on a new house on the site of his home, though. (And I can't see the point of putting it next to his grave since that is itself a memorial.)”
by Mr_Nemo
Saturday, November 03 2012, 9:28PM
“"A campaign to commemorate a war hero .......is gathering support in Bath"
Really? This is the first that I have heard of it, so exactly how much support does it have? But it seems a nice idea, so I wish it well.”
by Imp-Act
Saturday, November 03 2012, 8:46PM
“Because of people like you!”
by AbandonShip
Saturday, November 03 2012, 1:23PM
“But he hasn't faded away.......which is why there is this article.......”
by Imp-Act
Saturday, November 03 2012, 1:05PM
“Ask any youngster today about this fellow and they haven't a clue who or what he was. It's ONLY older people that have heared of him and we are all getting on in life so just let him be...as the saying goes "Old soldiers never die! They just fade away!"”