Charles Frederick Goodeve
Photograph by Walter Stoneman bromide print, 24 May 1946 NPG x164603
Sir Charles Goodeve 1904-1980
Lived at: Middleway
Profession: Chemist and Operations Research
Other links: Scientist; military
About his life:
- Born in Canada; moved to London in 1927 to pursue post-graduate work in chemistry
- Led a team that protected ships from magnetic mines during the Second World War, among other achievements
- Known for: WW II development of "hedgehog" antisubmarine warfare weapon and the degaussing method for protecting ships from naval mines
- Knighted in 1945
- Director of the British Iron and Steel Research Association
Charles Goodeve was born in Canada and came to London to study in 1927 to do post-graduate work in chemistry. He taught at UCL and distinguished himself during the Second World War by finding ways of protecting ships from magnetic mines, which he called ‘de-gaussing’. This method was successfully employed on more than four hundred ships involved in the Dunkirk evacuations of 1940. His team worked on ways to protect shipping from air attack, creating many successful projects. His ‘Great Panjandrum’, a giant explosive-laden wheel designed to roll over and destroy enemy beach fortifications, inspired an episode of Dad’s Army when it ran out of control and hurtled towards top-brass gathered for a demonstration. Goodeve was knighted for his wartime service in 1945. He was director of the British Iron and Steel Research Association until his retirement in 1969 and remained on Middleway until his death
