Jones' van (Dad's Army)

Jones' van displayed at the Charles Burrell Steam Museum in Thetford

Jones' van is the butcher's delivery van owned by Lance-Corporal Jones in the BBC comedy series Dad's Army. It is a 1935 two-ton Ford BB Box Van with the registration plate 'BUC 852' and appeared in Dad's Army from 1969 to 1977; it will also be seen in the 2016 film based on the series. In 2012 the van was sold to the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford.^[1]

Dad's Army

While it is doubtful that a small local butcher like Jones would have needed so large a van in real life, let alone have been able to finance its running costs during wartime, the van became essential in the series as a means of moving the Walmington-on-Sea platoon about.^[2] The platoon uses Jones' van as transport and improvised IFV for their manoeuvres.

Jones is very proud of his van, and is often reluctant to allow various modifications needed for the platoon's activities. The instances when Captain Mainwaring causes the van to get damaged are the very rare occasions when Jones becomes upset with the captain, at one point threatening to blacklist Mainwaring from his sausage list; to which Mainwaring replied carefully "Steady, Jones".

History

The engine to Jones' van is the original from 1935

Corporal Jones' van is a 1935 two-ton Ford BB and was one of the first commercial models produced at Ford's Dagenham factory when it opened in 1931. It was discovered in a dilapidated condition in Streatham in London by Frank Holland, an assistant property master for the BBC. Such was its condition that the van was on the verge of being scrapped. Holland contacted Fred Wilmington, whose company supplied vehicles to the BBC; he purchased the van and restored it to full working order.

Later Paul Joel, a designer working on Dad's Army, spotted the van among Wilmington's stock of vehicles and obtained it for use in the series. The van was repainted and had 'J. Jones Family Butcher' sign-painted on its side panels. The van still has its original engine from 1935.

Screen appearances

The Ford Model AA used in the 1971 film

Jones' van made its screen debut in Dad's Army on 11 September 1969 in the episode The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones, the first in the series to be made in colour (the episode "Branded" was the first to be transmitted in colour). The van continued to make regular appearances until the series ended in 1977.^[2]

In 1979 the original van was seen in Dick Barton - Special Agent with the distinctive side panels covered and the van filmed through a green filter to further disguise it. The van will also appear in the 2016 Dad's Army film.

A different van was used for the 1971 Dad's Army film, namely a closed cab Ford Model AA with a box roof added so that the platoon could stand inside it. This is on show at the Bressingham Steam and Gardens exhibition.

Move to Thetford

When Dad’s Army ended in 1977 the original Ford BB van was sold to a Ford Dealer in Finchley and then sold again in 1991 to the Patrick Motor Museum for a hammer price of £11,200.^[3]^[4] In 2012 the van was auctioned by Bonhams, when it was sold to the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford for £63,100 including the premium.^[2]^[5]^[6] The van went on display at the Charles Burrell Museum in early 2013 after a period of restoration.^[7]^[8]

Merchandise

Various toy versions of Jones van were commercially available, including one made as part of a series of Dad's Army/wartime vehicles by the BBC,^[9] while Corgi released 1:50 scale models of a Thornycroft van as Jones butcher's van and a Bedford 0 Series as Hodges’ van. Each came with a figurine of the character. A special edition of Jones' van is available at the Dad's Army Museum and the Charles Burrell Museum in Thetford.

References

Dad's Army

Characters

Television
episodes

Series 1	The Man and the Hour Museum Piece Command Decision The Enemy Within the Gates The Showing Up of Corporal Jones Shooting Pains

Series 2	Operation Kilt The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker Sgt. Wilson's Little Secret A Stripe for Frazer† Under Fire

Series 3	The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones Battle School The Lion Has Phones The Bullet is Not for Firing Something Nasty in the Vault Room at the Bottom Big Guns The Day the Balloon Went Up War Dance Menace from the Deep Branded Man Hunt No Spring for Frazer Sons of the Sea

Series 4	The Big Parade Don't Forget the Diver Boots, Boots, Boots Sgt – Save My Boy! Don't Fence Me In Absent Friends Put That Light Out! The Two and a Half Feathers Mum's Army The Test A. Wilson (Manager)? Uninvited Guests Fallen Idol

Series 5	Asleep in the Deep Keep Young and Beautiful A Soldier's Farewell Getting the Bird The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones If the Cap Fits... The King was in his Counting House All is Safely Gathered In When Did You Last See Your Money? Brain Versus Brawn A Brush with the Law Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel Time on My Hands

Series 6	The Deadly Attachment My British Buddy The Royal Train We Know Our Onions The Honourable Man Things that Go Bump in the Night The Recruit

Series 7	Everybody's Trucking A Man of Action Gorilla Warfare The Godiva Affair The Captain's Car Turkey Dinner

Series 8	Ring Dem Bells When You've Got to Go Is There Honey Still for Tea? Come In, Your Time Is Up High Finance The Face on the Poster

Series 9	Wake Up Walmington The Making of Private Pike Knights of Madness The Miser's Hoard Number Engaged Never Too Old

Specials	Santa On Patrol Resisting the Aggressor Down the Ages Cornish Floral Dance Battle of the Giants! Broadcast to the Empire My Brother and I The Love of Three Oranges