Command Decision (Dad's Army)

Leadership agrees with Captain Mainwairing, but the men, still without uniforms and arms, are getting restless. The platoon's fortunes take a turn when old campaigner Colonel Square arrives with an offer of rifles and horses. There is a catch; to secure the weapons, Mainwaring must hand over command to Colonel Square.

The platoon are all feeling blue due to their lack of rifles. In a rather rash bid to raise spirits, Mainwaring promises them some before the week is out, but time is running short. He then is visited by a local nobleman called Colonel Square, who reveals that he has got rifles which he is willing to allow the platoon to use, however Mainwaring discovers that Square will only allow this if he himself is in charge of the platoon, as they are his own weapons.

Mainwaring is hesitant but as he runs out of options to keep his word to the men, he contacts Colonel Square and agrees to his terms, putting the platoon under the command of Colonel Square. The Platoon is then marched out to Colonel Squares estate, where he has them ride horses. Mainwaring then inquires about the horses to Square's Butler, who reveals that the horses belong to Bailey's Circus, and Square is only looking after the horses for the duration of the war. Square's attempts to have the Platoon use swords on horseback goes badly wrong, and Frazer tells Mainwaring that they would be happier as they were than using 'four-legged dragons'. Mainwaring is flattered but reluctant, until he discovers that the rifles are elephant-shooting muskets, and so Mainwaring ends the deal and takes control again

Back at the church hall, a dejected Mainwaring gets a phone call telling him that the Local Defence Volunteers are being re-organised and will now be referred to as 'Home Guard'. Taking a few minutes alone in his office before facing the platoon, a corporal arrives with a late delivery of 500 LDV armbands, and to Mainwaring shock, 5 rifles. With his head high that he has been able to keep his word, Mainwaring takes the rifles into the main hall as the platoon cheer.

1. First appearance of Colonel Square.
2. This is one of three episodes where Mainwaring ceases to control the platoon for a period of time. The others are If the Cap Fits... and Room at the Bottom.

• Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad's Army. Orion. p. 48. ISBN 0-7528-4637-X.
• McCann, Graham (2001). Dad's Army: The story of a classic television show. Fourth Estate. ISBN 1-84115-308-7.

• "Command Decision" at IMDb
• "Command Decision" at TV.com