The real Dad's Army in Bradford - wooden rifles and training that 'never quite went to plan'

This week saw the premiere of a short film from the vaults of the Yorkshire Film Archive, made by and about the Thornton Home Guard. The film follows the platoon from 1941 to 1944, revealing life as a Local Defence Volunteer, known as the 'Look, Duck and Vanish'.

Eddie North, a former Home Guard member who features in this film, recalls drills with wooden rifles, and the training that never quite went to plan.

Members of the Thornton Home Guard

“You’ve got to remember it was after Dunkirk, we were back on our heels, expecting the enemy to come across," says Eddie. "It’s a good job they didn’t, because there wasn’t very much we could have done about it...”

The film shows close to the truth Dad’s Army was; making do with whatever they had to hand before the right equipment arrived, keeping watch for signs of the enemy, staying out of sight, learning camouflage techniques, and preparing for invasion.

Members of the Thornton Home Guard

Preserved and digitised by the Yorkshire Film Archive, the film is beautifully shot, in colour. Given the circumstances, it is remarkable that it was made in the first place, and that it has survived the test of time.

The Real Dad’s Army, using footage from the original film made by Thornton Home Guard has been produced in partnership with Film Hub North. It was screened before this week's Yorkshire premiere of Dad’s Army in Bridlington, where the new Dad's Army film was shot.

Members of the Thornton Home Guard

• For more about the Real Dad's Army visit yorkshirefilmarchive.com