Captain Mainwaring often a sympathetic subtext to his own personal neuroses; it is apparent several times that he devotes his energies to his Home Guard unit for a sense of comradeship and purpose lacking in other parts of his life, such as his career and marriage. On one occasion when his men spurned a parade to play darts against the ARP he expressed bewilderment, saying coming to the platoon is "the highlight of my day". It is frequently implied that he is trapped in a loveless and unhappy marriage to Elizabeth, his unseen wife, who is domineering, neurotic and withholding of affection.
William Massey-Mainwaring who lent items from his collection to public galleries around the country. He was involved in Conservative politics and in 1892 put his name forward as a candidate for the Hackney Central constituency. Eventually he stood aside in favour of Sir Andrew Scoble. In 1895 he was elected as member of parliament for Finsbury Central, holding the seat until 1906. He died suddenly from influenza and diabetes at his London home in March 1907, aged 61. William Massey-Mainwaring The Honourable William Frederick Barton Massey-Mainwaring (28 May 1845 – 12 March 1907) was an Irish art collector and Conservative Party politician