- published: 24 May 2013
- views: 2988
John Paton Laurie (25 March 1897 – 23 June 1980) was a British actor born in Dumfries, Scotland.
Although he is now best remembered for his role as Private James Frazer in the sitcom Dad's Army (1968-1977), he appeared in scores of feature films under directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Powell and Laurence Olivier. He was also a stage actor (particularly of Shakespearean roles) and speaker of verse, especially when written by Robert Burns.
Laurie was the son of William Laurie (1856–1903), a clerk in a tweed mill and later a hatter and hosier, and Jessie Ann Laurie (née Brown; 1858–1935). He was a pupil at Dumfries Academy, then a grammar school, and abandoned a career in architecture to serve in the First World War. Laurie was left particularly haunted by his experiences. He once asked Jim Perry to stop showing a piece of film of the war, which was part of a piece Perry was filming about First World War veterans; saying "Turn it off, son. I can't watch it".[citation needed] After the war, in which he served with the Honourable Artillery Company, he trained to become an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London and first acted on stage in 1921.
When the morning comes and the day begins
I will go out in perfect peace
And as the sun goes down and darkness comes around
Unafraid I'll go to sleep
Over the fathers and the mothers and the daughters and
the sons we pray
Lord bless us and keep us
Make Your face to shine upon us
Raise Your countenance on us
And give us peace oh God
Lord bless us and keep us
Make Your face to shine upon us
Raise You countenance on us
And give us peace
Give us peace
Over all our days and thru all our paths may we not
forget this truth
Those who just believe you keep in perfect peace
Those of age and those of youth
Over the fathers and the mothers and the daughters and
the sons we pray
Bless us and keep us
Make Your face to shine upon us
Raise You countenance on us and give us peace
Please God
Bless us and keep us
Make Your face to shine upon us
Raise Your countenance on us and give us peace
Give us peace
Yeah O Lord