George Goodman (Royal Navy officer)

George Herbert Goodman
George Herbert Goodman
Born	25 November 1900; Bromsgrove, England
Died	31 May 1945 (aged 44); Rotterdam, Netherlands
Buried	The Hague (Westduin) General Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Lieutenant commander
Unit	HMS President; HMS Vernon
Battles / wars	Second World War
Awards	George Cross; Member of the Order of the British Empire

Lieutenant Commander George Herbert Goodman, GC, MBE (25 November 1900 – 31 May 1945)^[1]^[2] of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was awarded the George Cross for the "great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" he showed on 15 January 1942 in defusing an Italian circling torpedo.

Naval career

Goodman was attached to HMS Vernon, HMS President and HMS Nile (Alexandria) and rendered many unexploded devices safe during the war in Britain and North Africa.

George Cross

Goodman was the first person to defuse the Italian self-destructing torpedo which had beached itself east of Alexandria. He was assisted in this action by Petty Officer William Filer and painter Archibald John Russell, both of whom received the George Medal.

Notice of Goodman's George Cross appeared in the London Gazette on 15 September 1942, reading:^[3]

The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Cross for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty to:
Temporary Lieutenant George Herbert Goodman, M.B.E., R.N.V.R.

Death

Goodman died when a booby-trap exploded in a house in Rotterdam, on 31 May 1945.^[4]

References

^ CWGC entry
^ "The George Cross at Sea, 1939–45". Naval-history.net. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
^ London Gazette 15 September 1942
^ Find A Grave

[1] CWGC entry

[2] "The George Cross at Sea, 1939–45". Naval-history.net. Retrieved 14 August 2014.

[3] London Gazette 15 September 1942

[4] Find A Grave

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