Person Open DS/UK/6731 Train; Jack (1902-1966); British actor Train Jack 1902-1966 British actor Male

Jack Train (28 November 1902 – 16 December 1966) was a British radio and film actor popular during the Second World War. Born in Plymouth, Devon, Train was on BBC radio in many productions, but his characters in the BBC series ITMA (It's That Man Again) with Tommy Handley gave him fame. He appeared in several British films, none top-rated. In ITMA, the wartime comedy show, he created Colonel Chinstrap, a pickled former Indian Army officer who perpetually believed he was being offered a drink, replying: "I don't mind if I do". Chinstrap was based on a real person. Train was visiting the BBC's chief announcer and news reader, John Snagge, when in came a bleary-eyed former army man, another friend of Snagge's. The arrival said: "John, I've just done the most marvellous piece of business. I've bought a water heater on 10 years' hire purchase and what the gas company don't know is that I am drinking myself to death." It was not difficult for Train to turn him into Colonel Chinstrap, actors being encouraged to create characters from experience. When the man heard the show he failed to recognise himself but commented: "Wonderful character. I knew silly buggers like that in India." And then, nine years and five months after the first meeting, Snagge sent Train a telegram: THE COLONEL BEAT THE GAS COMPANY BY SEVEN MONTHS. Train made two cameo appearances in The Goon Show as Colonel Chinstrap. He was also a regular panellist on the popular radio quiz show Twenty Questions. He died on 16 December 1966 in London. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes RAHhbaulcombe 8/9/2013 Rachael.Fragola 3/1/2022 088250ff-1937-4ce8-b2f2-d9f6ac996d43