When villagers at Garsington saw Dad’s Army on TV, they must have thought immediately of their own Home Guard.

The platoon’s early history mirrored life in the popular series.

Gerry Moore, who lived in the village as an evacuee – his father Charles was butler to artist Thomas Lowinsky, who lived in the manor house – has vivid memories of it.

He writes: “Mr Lowinsky and Joseph Jennings, the local poultry farmer, brought together a group of men that eventually became the 4th Battalion Oxfordshire Home Guard, Garsington Section.

“Lowinsky and Jennings had seen service in France during the First World War.

“Lowinsky, having held the rank of lieutenant in the Scots Guards, felt himself socially superior to Jennings, who had been a non-commissioned officer.

“Jennings was made captain and Lowinsky his lieutenant – a situation mirrored exactly in Dad’s Army on TV, with Mainwaring, the bank manager, as captain, and Wilson, his chief clerk and social superior, as sergeant.

“When my father joined, they had no uniforms or arms – they paraded with knives tied to broom handles and the men who were farmers with shotguns.

“Lowinsky had his service revolver but no ammunition.

“This caused another upset, as Jennings, being the commanding officer, thought he should have the revolver, but Lowinsky would not hand it over.

“The battalion eventually received uniforms, but my father never looked comfortable in his – I believe the hairy material itched like mad.”

Mr Moore, who now lives in Weeting, Norfolk, says, however, that the men finally got their act together.

“Eventually, nearly all the younger men were enlisted into the armed forces, but despite this constant drain on their numbers, the Home Guard maintained a force of about 30 men. They took part in exercises and had training in handling arms, unarmed combat and drill.

“They became a force to be reckoned with and would have gallantly defended the village against invaders.

“They were a grand sight when leading the parade on Armistice Sunday from St Mary’s Church to the war memorial.”

memory.lane@oxfordmail.co.uk