Set in the Home Guard, that ruthless force designed to keep the British Isles free from the grip of Nazism during WWII, this radio adaptation of the highly successful TV series was originally broadcast on the Radio 4, retained most of the original cast (James Beck who played Private Walker died during the run of the TV series), and many of the scripts from the TV versions. There were three series in all, running from early 1974, through to late 1976.
The following represents a complete log of the radio series, and appears to be more accurate that the sleeve notes of these issues giving listings of all three of the series (BBC Worldwide think there were only two!!!!). I have also added the details of the BBC releases alongside the episodes. There are now a total of 11 volumes of double cassettes available, and the first three volumes were recently re-issued as a set at a reduced price - well worth snapping up while stocks last.
Apart from the TV and the radio series, there was a stage play (with a record issued), and there has even been a novel and of course the film. Now that the BBC have started to issue the TV series on DVD, I intend to bring details as new volumes are released. The first, in their range of Best Of... titles, contains The Deadly Attachment, Keep Young and Beautiful, Never Too Old, Asleep in the Deep, and Sons of the Sea, along with the Selection Box show. So not only do you get 5 episodes, there is the documentary with hand-picked clips and interviews with various celebs and the ubiquitous artist profiles. This is the best value out of all The Best Of... range and cannot be passed up, so, ration books out, form an orderly line, everyone will be able to get one, but there IS a war on, you know!
SERIES 1 | 2 | 3
Series One.
This series was broadcast on a Monday evening at 6.15pm
| Date | Episode Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 74 | The Man And The Hour | Vol 2 |
| 04 Feb 74 | Museum Piece | Vol 2 |
| 11 Feb 74 | Command Decision | Vol 2 |
| 18 Feb 74 | The Enemy Within The Gates | Vol 2 |
| 25 Feb 74 | The Battle Of Godfrey's Cottage | Vol 3 |
| 04 Mar 74 | The Armoured Might Of Lance Corporal Jones | Vol 4 |
| 11 Mar 74 | Sergeant Wilson's Little Secret | Vol 4 |
| 18 Mar 74 | A Stripe For Frazer | Vol 3 |
| 25 Mar 74 | Operation Kilt | Vol 4 |
| 01 Apr.74 | Battle School | Vol 4 |
| 08 Apr 74 | Under Fire | Vol 6 |
| 15 Apr 74 | Something Nasty In the Vault | Vol 5 |
| 22 Apr 74 | The Showing Up Of Corporal Jones | Vol 5 |
| 29 Apr 74 | The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Walker | Vol 5 |
| 06 Apr 74 | Sorry Wrong Number | Vol 5 |
| 13 May 74 | The Bullet Is Not For Firing | Vol 6 |
| 20 May 74 | Room At The Bottom | Vol 6 |
| 27 May 74 | The Menace From The Deep | Vol 6 |
| 03 Jun 74 | No Spring For Frazer | |
| 10 Jun 74 | Sons Of The Sea |
For Christmas 1974, there was a special show broadcast, again on Radio 4, at 1.15pm
| 24 Dec 74 | Present Arms |
Series Two.
Season two went out on Radio 4 on a Tuesday lunchtime at 12:25pm.
| Date | Episode Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 75 | Don't Forget The Diver | Vol 7 |
| 18 Feb 75 | If The Cap Fits | Vol 7 |
| 25 Feb 75 | Put That Light Out | Vol 11 |
| 04 Mar 75 | Boots Boots Boots | |
| 11 Mar 75 | Sergeant - Save My Boy! | Vol 11 |
| 18 Mar 75 | Branded | Vol 9 |
| 25 Mar75 | Uninvited Guests | Vol 11 |
| 01 Apr 75 | A Brush With The Law | Vol 7 |
| 08 Apr 75 | A Soldiers Farewell | Vol 10 |
| 15 Apr 75 | Brain Versus Brawn | |
| 22 Apr 75 | War Dance | |
| 29 Apr 75 | Mum's Army | |
| 06 May 75 | Getting The Bird | Vol 7 |
| 13 May 75 | Don't Fence Me In | |
| 20 May 75 | The King Was In His Counting House | Vol 8 |
| 27 May 75 | When Did You Last See Your Money? | Vol 1 |
| 03 Jun 75 | Fallen Idol | Vol 11 |
| 10 Jun 75 | A. Wilson - Manager | |
| 17 Jun 75 | All Is Safely Gathered In | Vol 10 |
| 24 Jun 75 | The Day The Balloon Went Up | Vol 9 |
Series Three.
The final season, 3, was broadcast on Radio 4 of a Tuesday lunchtime as before at 12:25pm,
| Date | Episode Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 76 | A Man Of Action | Vol 9 |
| 23 Mar 76 | The Honourable Man | Vol 3 |
| 30 Mar 76 | The Godiva Affair | Vol 8 |
| 06 Apr 76 | Keep Young And Beautiful | |
| 13 Apr 76 | Absent Friends | |
| 20 Apr 76 | Round And Round Went The Big Wheel | Vol 9 |
| 27 Apr 76 | The Great White Hunter | |
| 04 May 76 | The Deadly Attachment | Vol 8 |
| 11 May 76 | Things That Go Bump In the Night | |
| 18 May 76 | My British Buddy | Vol 8 |
| 25 May 76 | Big Guns | |
| 01 Jun 76 | The Big Parade | Vol 10 |
| 08 Jun 76 | Asleep In the Deep | Vol 10 |
| 15 Jun 76 | We Know Our Onions | |
| 22 Jun 76 | The Royal Train | |
| 29 Jun 76 | A Question Of Reference | |
| 06 Jul 76 | High Finance | Vol 3 |
| 13 Jul 76 | The Recruit | |
| 20 Jul 76 | A Jumbo Sized Problem | Vol 1 |
| 27 Jul 76 | The Cricket Match | |
| 03 Aug 76 | Time On My Hands | Vol 1 |
| 10 Aug 76 | Turkey Dinner | |
| 17 Aug 76 | The Captains Car | |
| 24 Aug 76 | The Two and a Half Feathers | |
| 31 Aug 76 | Is There Honey Still For Tea? | |
| 07 Sept 76 | Ten Seconds From Now | Vol 1 |