William Arnold Ridley , OBE ( 7 January 1896 -- 12 March 1984 ) was an English playwright and actor , first notable as the author of the play `` The Ghost Train '' and later in life for portraying the elderly Private Charles Godfrey in the British sitcom `` Dad 's Army '' ( 1968 -- 77 ) .
William Arnold Ridley , OBE ( 7 January 1896 -- 12 March 1984 ) was an English playwright and actor . He is known for his play `` The Ghost Train '' and for playing the elderly Private Charles Godfrey in the British sitcom `` Dad 's Army '' ( 1968 -- 77 ) .