Unfortunately, while charging at a dummy of Adolf Hitler, Pike bayonets the door, simultaneously puncturing Mainwaring's new hat.
Wilson finds the note hidden under some other papers, and Square surmises that the reason he hid the letter is because Mainwaring has not got any medals, and he did not want to feel out of place.
Mainwaring responds by claiming that his platoon could "wipe the floor" with his any day, because they are fitter, better trained and better led, and insults Square by saying that he has a "Colonel Blimp mentality".
Square is angered and says that Mainwaring should prove that or apologise, and the Colonel suggests some initiative tests to settle the argument.
Once they receive the details of the test, Mainwaring convenes a parade to discuss their plan of action.
Walker tells Mainwaring that he has made separate flags for both platoons to fly at the top of a tower, to mark the end of the test.
Frazer foresees a snag: while they are performing the test, Godfrey will still be trying to climb out of Jones' van and suggests that he breaks his leg to avoid going on the test, but Jones suggests that they carry Godfrey the way the natives carried Dr. Livingstone in Africa.
As they set off again with Mainwaring taking over as driver, they realise they have been travelling in a circle, and the Eastgate van is catching them up.
Mainwaring tries to stall them by swerving all over the road, but Hodges stops them, allowing the Eastgate platoon to get ahead.
Mainwaring and Square rush to help but tell their respective Sergeants to let down the enemy's tyres, leaving them both stranded.