List of Dad's Army Characters - Other Platoon Members

Other Platoon Members

In addition to the seven featured players, 1st Platoon 'B' Company also included a "Second Section" and a "Third Section" who filled the platoon up to size while on parade or display. The men of the platoon wear the cap badges of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. The back rows rarely spoke, although according to Jimmy Perry instead of "extras", they were normally retired actors, playwrights or singers. A handful of platoon members had a secondary but significant role in particular episodes:-

• Private Sponge (Colin Bean) - a sheep farmer, and de facto leader of the platoon's Section Two (the extras), although he never actually achieved the corporal's stripe(s) normally associated with a Section leader. Appearing throughout the series, he made more frequent appearances as the show went on, particularly after the death of James Beck.
• Private Thomas Bracewell (John Ringham) was an upper-class buffoon who was set to be a major character in the series. Due to the large number of major characters that were introduced, it was decided that he was to be dropped. He only appears in the first episode of the programme, and was mentioned in the second episode. Ringham also appeared in two episodes as Captain Bailey.
• Private Cheeseman (Talfryn Thomas) - originally a Welsh journalist who appeared in one episode in series six; after the death of James Beck he joined the platoon for series seven. Although there was nothing wrong with Thomas' ability as an actor, David Croft wrote that the character was "irritating without being funny", and as an exotic Celt he was too similar to Private Frazer (John Laurie was strongly against the character). The writers decided that Cheeseman should not return for series eight and nine, but they would make more use of the existing minor characters. A character called Charlie Cheeseman (played by Jimmy Perry) appeared in the sixth episode, but he was unrelated.
• Private George 'Nobby' Clarke (John Cater) - joined the platoon briefly when he tried to dig up dirt about Jones' history in the Sudan. He was revealed to have had an affair with his commanding officer's wife, and when this was revealed in Jones' retelling of events, he fled Walmington never to return.
• Private Desmond (Desmond Cullum-Jones) - features in the episode "Sons of the Sea", where he joins the First Section on a river patrol. He does not reappear in subsequent episodes.