Dad's Army: What were the Campaign Medals of Captain Square?

The boorish, pompous Captain Square was a fictional character and Home Guard rival of Captain Mainwaring.
In this video, in a lighthearted fashion, we uncover the military campaign medals awarded to Captain Square who, like the Dad's Army character Lance Corporal Jones, was a former professional soldier and retired as a Colonel.
We discover he had a varied military career campaigning in South Africa, Afghanistan, serving alongside Lawrence of Arabia and fighting in Persia, modern day Iran.

[@hecklepig]

My great grandfather served in the Boer war with the New Zealand contingent. He was only just turned 16 and lied about his age to enlist as a supposed 21 year old. He also served in the first world war at the age of 28, and apparently no one noticed that a supposed fully grown man grew four inches from his previous enlistment. He was debilitated back to New Zealand before serving as part of the reinforcements at Gallipoli, having contracted rheumatic fever in Egypt.

[@fus149hammer5]

Of course all the medals in Dads Army don't equate to the special award given to the mildest and most gentle character Pte Charles Godfrey MM...

[@davidhorsley2717]

The actor who played Godfrey, Captain Arnold Ridley OBE, was the only member of the cast of Dad's Army to have served in both world wars and had a rather spectacular group of medals, denoting service as an enlisted soldier on the Somme (where he was severely wounded) and as an officer with the BEF at Dunkirk and a distinguished training officer then later in the Home Guard

[@russellnixon9981]

Love this dive in to military history and little known campaigns, an excellent format.

[@markflowers4814]

I'm really enjoying your videos. They're fun, informative and nicely produced. Looking forward to more content, and keep up the good work!

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Thanks Mark, much appreciated.

[@mjspice100]

Captain Mainwaring’s back story is that he tried to enlist in 1914 and was rejected due to poor eyesight, he eventually got in and was deployed to France in 1919 saying “someone had to clear the mess up”.

[@ClaspsofCourage]

I think in one episode I also heard him say he spent some time in the Orkney Islands too. I can't remember if he said he was deployed there in a military or civilian capacity though.

[@ashman187]

Here's to the health of cardinal Puff Puff for the first time. 🥃

[@jameseadie7145]

Only one puff for the first time, drink up.

[@fus149hammer5]

😂👍​@@jameseadie7145

[@adamhickey396]

I can't wait to see your video on Captain Mainwaring's medals 😆

[@jamesmaclennan4525]

I thought for a moment that the unidentified medal might be the Long Service and Good Conduct medal but that wasn't instituted till 1930 and was never issued to officers.

[@jannarkiewicz633]

Ha!!! I learned about Dad's Army from KZbin. I've actually listed to radio versions of the show. As an American it is hard to understand the 1940s logo. Great video as always.

[@Djarra]

Great video. You should do Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart from Doctor Who. Especially as seen clearly in ‘Spearhead from Space’ his first colour appearance and he’s wearing a Scots Guard uniform rather than a UNIT uniform and badges.

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've never really watched Dr Who but I will add it to my ideas list and have a look into it.

[@beefabob]

Thank you, I loved it.

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Thanks, much appreciated

[@fus149hammer5]

'EL LAURANCE MAN EL LAURANCE'!😂 It's nice to know that Perry and Croft at least took some time getting the medals right even if the stories don't quite match.😊

[@MrDavidht]

Always thought Square might be a line shooter. Clearly a minnow in the shadow of the military titan and military genius that was Captain Mainwaring. Hitler never stood a chance😂

[@johncook3817]

Another great video! I really enjoy them and it gives the TV characters a bit more substance 😅

[@2511dhall]

Actually in the show his medals in order was: Order of the British Empire (1935 ribbon) DSO Egypt Medal Queen’s Sudan Medal Queen’s South Africa Medal King’s South Africa Medal African General Service Medal Indian General Service Medal (1909) 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal General Service Medal (1918) King Edward VII Coronation Medal King George V Coronation Medal King George V Silver Jubilee Medal King George VI Coronation Medal

[@ajbcollectables]

Nursing sisters were awarded the King's South Africa without clasps. QSAs with the 1899-1900 "raised dates" were issued to the Canadian unit, Lord Strathcona's horse and a smattering of soldiers from other units. There's some debate about the exact number issued. About a third of all QSAs have "ghost dates", the dies were altered to fill the dates but are still visible to a greater or lesser extent on the medals. Great video, Square was annoying but funny.

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Thanks, I didn't know that fact about the Nursing Sisters or the Canadians etc. I loved the rivalry between Captain Square and Mainwaring's platoons. Fantastic actors and classic comedy!

[@ajbcollectables]

@@ClaspsofCourage Every episode is superb, I think Godfrey's Military Medal is my favourite.

[@2511dhall]

Actually if you watch Don’t Forget the Diver and Fallen Idol, the 1902 Coronation Medal wasn’t worn.

[@petergreenham7235]

I'd like to see Lance corperal medals match his claims of where and wh6 he earned them

[@mjspice100]

Lance Corporal Jones’ medals have actually been analysed in another video, they pretty much fit his claims.

[@davidharris4062]

I have my grandfathers QSA, KSA andPip, Squeak and Wilfred for WW1

[@alganhar1]

The Order of the British Empire is not awarded for Gallantry. Medals already exist for that, both in and out of combat. For military personnel its generally awarded for something related to the task, but for which a current award will not suffice. There is a Civilian and Operational ribbon, as serving soldiers are eligible for the non military version of the ribbon for the same reasons civilians are, some civil service to the nation, such as longstanding and effective charity work for example. The civilian ribbon is salmon pink with a silver grey central stripe. The Operational ribbon has the addition of two further silver grey stripes one on each edge of the ribbon. How do I know this? My father was awarded an Operational MBE for his work during the first Gulf War. We still have no idea why, the actual citation has never been released, we have only ever seen a highly truncated version. Its probably enough to say he was Intelligence Corps and spent most of his 36 year career either in anti terrorism, or Electronic Warfare. And that is precisely all I can tell you as that is literally all I know (his service record which I have a copy of is also highly redacted). His ribbon has the three thin silver grey stripes though, while the Civilian version has only the central stripe, I was curious as to the difference so looked the matter up. The ribbon is the only difference between an operational award of the Order of the British Empire, and a Civil award. In all other respects the medals are the same, and worn the same depending on the level of the award.

[@paulbowler2760]

The military ribbon for the Order of the British Empire has 3 grey stripes but the civilian ribbon has only 2 - the central stripe is not there.

[@alganhar1]

@@paulbowler2760 Huh, you are right, should have double checked before I posted. Weird how memory plays its tricks. I got the Military ribbon right at least, that WOULD have been embarrassing!

[@markhindmarsh2811]

I'm liking these snap shots of millitary history. Could I be as bold to give a couple of suggestions. First awards and decorations of Carry on up the Khyber (if they are real) and secondly a look at the opposition . The medals of Allo Allo. Please keep this channel going

[@ClaspsofCourage]

I think Sid James character had a jumbled mix of medals. I will be looking at a few non-British awards in the near future so thanks for your feedback.

[@markhindmarsh2811]

@@ClaspsofCourage Thanks for the reply. Look forward to it

[@fus149hammer5]

What KCB, OBE, ACDC, BBC ITV, available for private parties? Good luck with them!😂

[@markhindmarsh2811]

@@fus149hammer5 You never know 🤭

[@saadkhan1128]

please do the ribbons of general Clive candy from life and death of colonel blimp

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Off the top of my head I think the ribbons he displayed were the Boer War QSA/KSA and the WW1 trio so much the same as Colonel Square

[@ianherd569]

Cardinal puff ? - happy days - all gone!

[@2511dhall]

Did you watch all the episodes as a couple of episodes on medal I cannot identify with.

[@bonaggy]

Had to go and double check, but the other ribbons - those that appeared in the Christmas special - were: the Egypt Medal (1882-1889); the Queen’s Sudan Medal (1896-1897); and the Africa General Service Medal (1902-1920). Enjoying the videos immensely, please keep up the excellent work. My paternal grandfather fought in WW1 but had the slightly differing trio of the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, and the Territorial Force War Medal.

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Thanks for the information on the other medals. Glad you are enjoying the content.

[@davidhorsley2717]

If the Order of the British Empire ribbon is worn before the DSO, then he held Grade III Commander rank, i.e. the CBE -which is somewhat special for a man who made only the rank of Captain! I 'll bet, therefore, he was probably a staff, or at least regimental, officer in WW1 and his TA rank post-war is a mere Captain. ONE PROBLEM with the analysis in this video, the final ribbon cannot be the King Edward VII Coronation medal because it would be worn senior to (one place nearer the lapel than) the KG5 Silver jubilee Medal. No decent military tailor would make such a mistake and Captain Short is the kind that would spot it a mile away. I know it looks like the KE7 Coronation Medal but I am not convinced, I have checked the charts and can't find it, anybody any ideas?

[@RJSRdg]

Square had been a Colonel in his professional Army career. When we first see him, he is referred to as Colonel Square. However when the Home Guard was formed, more retired officers came forwards than were required by the Home Guard, so some had to settle for non-commissioned ranks but their commissions were recognised by giving them honorific ranks such as "Corporal Colonel" - when we next meet Square in Series 2, he goes by this rank and wears a Corporal's stripes with a Colonel's pips. Eventually Square gets made up to Captain of the Eastgate platoon, and as this is a commissioned rank, his honorific title is no longer used.

[@fatrobin72]

So, another case of the old BBC getting it mostly, right?

[@jak1590]

Can you do the Captain from Ghosts

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Thanks for the suggestion, I shall add it to the ever growing list.

[@keithagn]

​@ClaspsofCourage SPOILER ALERT!: As I recall, from the last episode of Ghosts, the captain put on someone else's tunic, and was called out for that; and suffered a heart attack and died wearing the incorrect tunic. Regards from Canada 🇨🇦

[@timstanfield461]

The last medal could be this. It is obviously erroneously awarded based on the character. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Constabulary_Long_Service_Medal

[@ClaspsofCourage]

Thanks Tim, the only one I could think of was the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service but without HD imagery I just wasn't 100% and I couldn't imagine Captain Square in the police force!

[@kennethhummel4409]

Boor war and afghan service? He must have been rear echelon since he didn’t learn much about guerrilla warefare.

[@keithskelhorne3993]

see, the funny thing about "guerilla" is that they dont fight the enemy "front lines", they actually attack the "rear echelon", so there fore wankspangle ,,,, do your own research ;)

[@benwilson6145]

OBE, other buggers efforts

[@paulbowler2760]

OBE - over bloody eighty! Received mine last month!!

[@daviddou1408]

OBE and DSO are not gallantry medals.