. ▁Frederick ▁William ▁Ber wick ▁became ▁a ▁partner ▁in ▁the ▁Ang lo - F rench ▁autom obile ▁manufact uring ▁company ▁S iz aire - Ber wick ▁and ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 3 ▁Warner ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁work ▁as ▁a ▁mechan ic ▁in ▁Paris . ▁He ▁drove ▁completed ▁ch ass is ▁to ▁the ▁coast ▁from ▁where ▁they ▁were ▁sh ipped ▁to ▁England , ▁road - testing ▁them ▁en ▁route ▁He ▁acquired ▁a ▁working ▁knowledge ▁of ▁French ▁which ▁stood ▁him ▁in ▁good ▁stead ▁throughout ▁his ▁life , ▁an ▁im itation ▁of ▁Maurice ▁Che val ier ▁became ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁his ▁re per toire . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁First ▁World ▁War ▁he ▁served ▁in ▁France ▁as ▁a ▁driver ▁in ▁the ▁Royal ▁F lying ▁Corps ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Mer itor ious ▁Service ▁Medal ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 8 . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁England ▁and ▁the ▁motor ▁trade ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁gradu ating ▁from ▁he ars es ▁to ▁occas ional ▁car ▁racing ▁at ▁Brook lands . ▁He ▁was ▁over ▁thirty ▁before ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁professional ▁ent ert ainer . ▁ ▁Act ing ▁career ▁Warner ▁first ▁made ▁his ▁name ▁in ▁music ▁hall ▁and ▁radio . ▁By ▁the ▁early ▁years ▁of ▁the ▁Second ▁World ▁War , ▁he ▁was ▁nation ally ▁known ▁and ▁star red ▁in ▁a ▁BBC ▁radio ▁comedy ▁show ▁G arrison ▁Theatre , ▁invari ably ▁opening ▁with , ▁" A ▁Mon olog ue ▁Ent itled ... ". ▁ ▁Warner ' s ▁first ▁film ▁was ▁The ▁D ummy ▁Tal ks ▁( 1