Found - The Real Captain Blackadder and Private Baldrick

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-06-25/researchers-track-down-the-real-life-captain-blackadder-and-private-baldrick


I read a similar article to this in Thursday's "I" (the shorter version of the Independent newspaper).  As a fan of the entire Blackadder quadrilogy it was fascinating to read that, not only did individuals with those surnames actually serve during WWI, but that they attained the same ranks as those in the Blackadder Goes Forth series, that is:  Captain Blackadder and Captain Darling, Lt George and Private Baldrick.  

The only character who cannot be found to have a WWI namesake is Stephen Fry's  blundering, jingoistic, warmongering, General Melchett, although a General Melchett does appear to have served with the British army during WWII.

For me, the most poignant part of the entire Blackadder series was in the final episode, "Goodbyee" where, after unsuccessfully attempting to feign insanity as a "cunning plan" to avoid going to certain death in a charge over the top, Blackadder resigns himself to his fate with the comment "Who'd have ever noticed another madman around here?"

World War I, gentlemen, in a nutshell. Now, that's great script writing.

Couldn't agree more about the final episode, superb TV and one of the best finales I can remember.