This series was the second major output from the comedy team of Croft and Perry, the first being Dad's Army. Drawing on the experiences of Jimmy Perry in a wartime concert party, the series is set in the Royal Artillery Depot in Deolali, India (although in later series they changed location). Michael Bates starred as Ranji Ram (although this has been spelt Rangi and even Randi in some places), Windsor Davies as Sgt. Major 'Shut Up' Williams, George Layton as Bombardier Solomans, Melvyn Hayes as Gunner 'Gloria' Beaumont, Don Estelle as Lofty, and Donald Hewlett and Michael Knowles as the officers. The series has, in recent years, been the victim of PC, with a lot of the characters being branded as racist, and therefore, the show has not made it back on the repeat runs on BBC, although the other Croft Perry classics such as Dad's Army and Hi-De-Hi get outings far more regularly. UKGold, a UK satellite channel did show most of them a few years back (where I managed to get most of my information) and more recently, Acorn video have released four videos containing a total of 12 episodes, virtually in order. As a bonus, the fourth volume is a special edition featuring the classic Don Estelle, Windsor Davies hit, 'Whispering Grass'. When I contacted Acorn about the two missing shows, all they could say was that they were not able to buy the distribution rights, so whether theya re being withheld for copyright reasons or have been junked, I am not sure. So as not to miss the gravy train, dear old Auntie have issued an audio cassette containing four episodes from the show. Now normally I would baulk at the idea of a TV programme only having the soundtrack issued, but as this is one of my favourite shows, I have let them off. Unfortunately, the mediums are different and there is a lot of visual humour in the series, some of which is lost on cassette. Nevertheless, if you are a fan like I am then you will probably have copies on video somewhere and will be aware of what is going on. Oh, don't think that you will be completely lost with just the cassette as the four episodes chosen still work very well, but it is certainly a missed opportunity. Here follows an episode log for the series. This has been compiled from various sources, although a considerable amount was from material taken from the excellent fan magazine Hello Campers! written by Rob Cope. He can be contacted at:24 Woodland Avenue,
Cheddleton,
nr Leek,
Staffs.
ST13 7BZ
SERIES 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8Series One.
Title TX Date Notes Meet The Gang 3.1.74 Acorn Video Volume 1 My Lovely Boy 10.1.74 Acorn Video Volume 1 & audio tape The Mutiny Of The Punka Wallahs 17.1.74 Acorn Video Volume 1 A Star Is Born 24.1.74 The Jungle Patrol 31.1.74 Acorn Video Volume 2 It's A Wise Child 7.2.74 The Road To Bannu 14.2.74 Acorn Video Volume 2 The Inspector Calls 21.2.74 Acorn Video Volume 2 Series Two.
Title TX Date Notes Showing The Flag 2.1.75 Acorn Video Volume 3 Down In The Jungle 9.1.75 Acorn Video Volume 3 The Natives Are Revolting 16.1.75 Acorn Video Volume 3 Cabaret Time 23.1.75 Acorn Video Volume 4 The Curse Of The Sadhu 30.1.75 Acorn Video Volume 4 Forbidden Fruits 6.2.75 Acorn Video Volume 4 Has Anyone Seen My Cobra? 13.2.75 The Night Of The Thugs 20.2.75 Series Three.
Title TX Date Notes The Supremo Show 2.1.76 Audio tape Mind My Maharajah 9.1.76 Bang Goes The Maharajah 16.1.76 The Grand Illusion 23.1.76 Pale Hands I Love 30.1.76 Don't Take The Micky 6.2.76 Series Four.
Title TX Date Notes Monsoon Madness 2.11.76 Kidnapped In The Khyber 9.11.76 A Fate Worse Than Death 16.11.76 Ticket To Blighty 23.11.76 Lofty's Little Friend 30.11.76 Flight To Jawani 7.12.76 We Are Not Amused 14.12.76 Audio tape Twenty.One Today 21.12.76 Series Five.
Title TX Date Notes Front Line Entertainers 25.10.77 Bridge Over The River Hipong 1.11.77 The Pay Off 8.11.77 Puddings From Heaven 15.11.77 The Superstar 22.11.77 The Eternal Quadrangle 29.11.77 Series Six.
Title TX Date Notes The Stars Look Down 23.10.78 The Big League 30.10.78 The Big Payroll Snatch 6.11.78 The Dhobi Wallahs 13.11.78 Lead, Kindly Light 20.11.78 Holidays At Home 27.11.78 Caught Short 4.12.78 Series Seven.
Title TX Date Notes That's Entertainment? 17.10.80 The Guinea Pigs 24.10.80 Dog In The Manger 31.10.80 The Great Broadcast 7.11.80 Class Of 1945 14.11.80 Star Commandos 21.11.80 Series Eight.
Title TX Date Notes Gloria's Finest Hour 23.7.81 Money Talks 30.7.81 Audio tape Aquastars 6.8.81 The Last Warrior 13.8.81 Never The Twain Shall Meet 20.8.81 The Long Road Home 27.8.81 The Last Roll Call 3.9.81