Sergeant Arthur Wilson

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Dad's Army character <tr> <td align="center" colspan="2">Image:Sergeant Wilson.jpg</td> </tr>
Sergeant Arthur Wilson <tr> <th>Affiliated with</th> <td>Home Guard</td> </tr><tr> <th>Occupation</th> <td>Bank clerk</td> </tr><tr> <th>First appearance</th> <td>The Man and the Hour</td> </tr><tr> <th>Last appearance</th> <td>Never Too Old</td> </tr><tr> <th>Portrayed by</th> <td>John Le Mesurier</td> </tr>

Sergeant (The Honourable) Arthur Wilson is a fictional Home Guard platoon sergeant and bank clerk portrayed by John Le Mesurier on the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army.

[edit] Personality

Wilson is a carefree, generally cheerful, well-spoken man, although his personality is more complex than first meets the eye. He has somewhat of a mysterious aura about him, due to his constant vague and slightly dreamy personality. However, he is a sweet and kind man, who goes along with the flow of life.

Captain Mainwaring, (Arthur's senior in the Home Guard, and in the bank) once compared Wilson to "Peter Pan" due to the fact that he can never face up to his responsibilities. These aforementioned responsibilities included Private Frank Pike, who hero-worships his 'Uncle Arthur' but who may in fact be Wilson's son - Wilson has a long-standing secret relationship with Mavis Pike, Frank's mother. It is common gossip in Walmington-on-Sea that, having both arrived in Walmington from Weston Super Mare around the same time, and many other extraordinary coincidences, Wilson and Mrs. Pike's relationship is more than 'just close friends'. It is assumed that Wilson's affair with the widowed Mavis began many years ago. Much mystery surrounds this topic, but as Mainwaring says - 'tongues will wag'.

Wilson's often dream-like state has often been the source of exaggerated mimicry by members of the platoon (mostly Walker and Fraser), but despite all this he remains well-liked by those who serve under him, and is notably admired by many (usually Jones, Godfrey and most of all Pike). This is partly due to his relaxed and informal approach to matters of rank and authority; rather than barking orders at his men as per the stereotype of a drill sergeant, he is more inclined to politely and pleasantly ask them "would you mind awfully stepping into rank, if you please?"

In the episode Getting The Bird, it is revealed (after much gossip among the platoon members about a pretty girl seen with him), that Wilson has a daughter in the ATS from an unsuccessful previous marriage when he was much younger.

A constant source of tension (and comedy) between Wilson and Mainwaring is the difference in social class between the two; it is frequently stated that Wilson had the benefit of an upper-middle class childhood and education, prompting a great deal of jealousy and resentment from the lower-class Mainwaring (who conversely had to work his way up to everything he has achieved, and thus views Wilson as having it 'easy'). Mainwaring will frequently reiterate his superior rank, both in the bank and in the military, as a way of maintaining some sense of authority and superiority over Wilson. Wilson, for his part, tends to gently undermine his superior officer through use of his casual charm and good looks, and through providing a frequent voice of concern whenever Mainwaring voices one of his latest plans, generally querying "Do you really think that's wise, sir?" in response to Mainwaring's enthusiasm. The contrasts between the two are established in several ways; as a civilian, Mainwaring wears a bowler, while Wilson wears a more fashionable "Anthony Eden" hat. In the episode The Honourable Man, Wilson became "The Honourable Arthur Wilson" after an uncle, a peer, died, making him a member of the aristocracy thereafter, Mainwaring's jealousy of Wilson's lifestyle and popularity was amplified considerably by this. As the town folk suddenly became overly friendly, Mainwaring did all he could to stay centre of attention. Wilson, for his part, detested his sudden elevation in social rank and the pressures and pretentions it began to force on him.

It is often suggested that Wilson secretly thinks Mainwaring is a bit of a pompous fool (and indeed, this would seem to be the truth), however despite their rocky relationship, the two remained loyal friends through thick and thin. However, Wilson does take many opportunities to gently undermine Mainwaring, usually by querying 'Do you really think that's wise, sir?' when Mainwaring is proposing something especially ridiculous. Wilson is often more worldly-wise and generally provides a more realistic and down-to-earth appraisal of any situation (both everyday and in the War at large) than Mainwaring, who is frequently blinded by his pomposity and fierce patriotism; as demonstrated in this exchange:

Mainwaring : "They'll never get through the Maginot Line"

Wilson : "Haven't you heard, they've gone round it"

Mainwaring : "That's a typical shabby Nazi trick"

However, when pushed hard enough a different Wilson emerges. In High Finance, it emerges during an enquiry that Warden Hodges has been forcing his attentions on Mrs Pike by blackmailing her with a rent hike, Wilson slowly walks round the table and punches Hodges in the face, much to the amazement and adoration of Mrs Pike and Frank.

In the final episode, Wilson turned up at the wedding of Jones and Mrs Fox in a captain's uniform, having achieved the rank of Captain in World War I. He was very modest about it and Mainwaring was genuinely, but pleasantly, surprised - although he still insisted that 'it doesn't change anything, you know'.