Private James Frazer also known as "Taffy", portrayed by John Laurie (25 March 1897-23 June 1980) was born in 1882 and was a sailor, then shop-keeper (possibly of a shop that sold coffins although in the first episode of the series he describes his business as a Philatelist's Shop (selling collectible postage stamps)), and later the funeral undertaker of Walmington-On-Sea. He served as a private of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard.