Lance Corporal Jones

Template:Dad's Army character Lance Corporal Jack Jones is a fictional Home Guard platoon lance-corporal and butcher portrayed by Clive Dunn in the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army.

Personality

In the series Jones is the elderly local high-street butcher, and an army veteran of long ago. He was so keen to sign up for the Home Guard that, despite his age, Captain Mainwaring instantly signed him up as the platoon's Lance Corporal (although Jones ability to provide off-the-ration meat may have had rather more to do with this decision). In many episodes, Jones fondly recalls his time during the Battle of Omdurman in the Sudan, or facing the "Fuzzie-Wuzzies" under the lead of General Kitchener. He was born in Walmington-on-Sea in 1870, and signed up in the army in his youth and became a drummer boy.

In the series Jones is known for a number of eccentric traits. One of the most noticeable is his long rambling explanations wherever he wants to make a point. He is also invariably one step behind the rest of the platoon in any drill manouver. He often makes far-fetched suggestions for the platoon, such as the advice to chop the German prisoners' trouser buttons off on the grounds that if they escaped, a group of German men walking through town with their trousers around their ankles might cause people to "raise some inquiries". Every time, Jones' suggestions are soundly refuted by Mainwaring:

"I think you're wandering into the realms of fantasy, Jones"

Jones is well remembered for his catchphrases "Don't Panic", "Permission to speak, sir", and of course - "They don't like it up 'em", which was taken from an old campaigner remembered by writer Jimmy Perry in his Home Guard days. In one episode, Jones has to tackle problems created by a former comrade, Private Clarke, who was with him at the time dervishes attacked and kidnapped the two soldiers later mistook the situation they had been in, and was under the impression that Jones left him to die.

Jones appears to have generally good relationships with Mainwaring and Wilson, who he often bribes with meat when he wants his own way. His main rivalry is usually with Frazer and the Verger - who he calls a trouble maker.

When informal occasions arise, Jones is often accompanied by Mrs Fox, his love-interest. Mrs Fox is a busty middle-aged widow, and a regular customer at Jones's butcher shop.