Having sustained injuries during World War I , the young Arnold Ridley was forced to give up a budding acting career and turn to writing. He hit the jackpot with 'The Ghost Train' which was a great West End success and has been filmed several times. This was followed by a number of other plays during the 1920s and 1930s. In later life he returned to acting, often as kindly and gentle old men such as his most famous role as Private Godfrey in the BBC comedy series Dad's Army (1968) from 1968 to 1977. He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year's Honours List of 1982, for services to drama.