Ep 2. Battle School

The episode Battle School of Dad's Army season 3 is an entertaining and humorous take on training for war. The show is set in the fictional coastal town of Walmington-on-Sea, situated on the south coast of England during World War II. The main characters are the members of the local Home Guard unit, tasked with defending their town against German invasion.

In the Battle School episode, Captain Mainwaring, the leader of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard unit, receives an invitation for his men to attend a training course in the city. The invitation is from a Major General who is in charge of the British Army's training programme. The opportunity to learn from the professionals is eagerly accepted by Mainwaring, and he sets about preparing his men for their journey to the training school.

On arrival at the training school, the Home Guard discover that they are to be trained alongside a group of ramshackle Czechoslovakian soldiers, who have come to England to learn about fighting the Germans. The two groups are not impressed with each other, and the language barriers between the Czechoslovakians and the Home Guard create plenty of confusion.

The Home Guard is given the task of designing an attack on a mock-up German position as part of their training. Despite their best efforts, their plan does not come together, and they end up being soundly beaten by the Czechoslovakians. Infuriated by their defeat, Captain Mainwaring demands another chance to prove himself and his men.

The Home Guard then embark on a strategy that involves sneaking up on the Czechoslovakians under the cover of darkness, using only their wits and a pack of cards to determine their moves. The plan seems to be working until the Germans set off an explosive device, revealing the Home Guard's position. The Czechoslovakians then mount a counter-attack, and the situation looks bleak for Captain Mainwaring and his men.

However, the tide of the battle turns when the Czech soldiers realize that Captain Mainwaring and his men were using the pack of cards to determine their moves. This causes the Czechoslovakians to break down in laughter, and the battle ends in a draw. Captain Mainwaring's men then return home, with the knowledge that their training has been successful, if not entirely conventional.

Throughout the episode, the humor is provided by the interaction between the Home Guard and the Czechoslovakians. The two groups do not understand each other's language or customs, and this leads to a lot of misunderstandings and slapstick moments. At the same time, the episode also deals with some of the serious issues that would have been faced by soldiers during World War II.

Overall, the Battle School episode of Dad's Army season 3 is an entertaining view of the challenges faced by soldiers during wartime. It combines humor and drama, and the cast does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. The relationship between Captain Mainwaring and his men is central to the show's success, and the camaraderie between the characters helps to make the episodes enjoyable for viewers of all ages.