Interviewee: Goode, Clarence Shirley, 1896-1987

Interviewer: Thackray, William S.; Torrie, Tom

An interview/narrative of Clarence Shirley Goode's experiences during World War I and II. Squadron Leader Goode served with the Royal Engineers, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force. Interviews took place on June 2, 1980 and July 9, 16 and 24, 1987.

Rank: Squadron Leader.

ABSTRACT: Squadron Leader Clarence Shirley Goode Royal Engineers Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force Goode_C_0079_01.mp3 (Interview 1) Became interested in wireless communications as a youth. Met Marconi, a famous pioneer. Learned Morse code as a boy and became very proficient. As a young man he was associated with Sir Charles Wright (later of Victoria, B.C.), the communicator with Scott's Antarctic expedition. In the Great War, as a Royal Engineer, worked on the secret "I-TOC" intelligence gathering device which allowed the British to overhear German telephone conversations. Explains the method, using "earth pins" near the German trenches, initially at Ypres. After being transferred to the Royal Flying Corps he had much to do with installing wireless sets in aircraft. All transmissions were in Morse. Worked at Farnborough, England. (ca. 1916). Joined the Allied Expeditionary Force in North Russia (1919) as "chief communications officer". Built and operated radio stations on the Dvina River. (30:00) After the war was employed during the early days of the B.B.C. Asked to rejoin the air force and was employed by the Air Ministry (ca. 1936). (45:00) Regional Controller for the Midlands. Set up a radio network including his own private radio station. In the Second World War he was sent secretly to France. Stationed at Metz he established a radio system of aerial navigation. Comments on the early days in the British Broadcasting Corporation (B.B.C.); many jealousies. (15:00) Goode_C_0079_02.mp3 In England was later in charge of "Z", secret radio work. Commanded a training school for wireless operators. Was appointed to command the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) station at Patricia Bay, B.C. in 1942. (25:00) Further remarks on training. (40:00) Goode_C_0079_03.mp3 (Interview 2, Side 1) Born in 1896 in Leicestershire (died Dec. 22, 1987). Charles Wright was his superior in the Royal Engineers. Early Morse transmissions before 1914. Describes equipment in use in the Ypres salient. (15:00) Use and advantages of Morse code transmissions. Trench warfare. Transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. (30:00) Early communications from aircraft. Front line environment, artillery fire, mortars. (45:00) Description of observation balloons. Farnborough, England. Early flying days where loss of engine power was a real danger. (15:00) Goode_C_0079_04.mp3 Early aircraft wireless required a one hundred-foot aerial which was reeled in and out as needed. Was offered a permanent commission in the R.A.F. Experiences with radio communications in North Russia. Returned to Scotland. (50:00) As a result of war service he suffered a possible nervous breakdown (?) and was in hospital for three months. Medical discharge. Returned to radio. Opened the B.B.C. station for western England at Plymouth. Many "firsts" in broadcasting. After two years he resigned and joined a commercial research firm. (26:00) Goode_C_0079_05.mp3 (Side 2) Ca. 1935 he bought the last operating hansom cab operating in Edinburgh, reconditioned it, and drove in the George V Jubilee procession (in London?) Was recalled by the Air Ministry in 1936. Regional controller for W.I.S. (Wireless Intelligence Screen) in the Midlands. During the "phoney war" served in Metz, France. Comments on the B.B.C. in the 1920s and makes additional allegations of discrimination against himself. For the Air Force he invented the TARY system of plotting and communication with aircraft. After the fall of France he became involved with the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Anecdotes of famous people he met in Metz. (45:00) In London he commanded an organization called "Z" which had to do with the use of aerial radar against enemy aircraft. (13:00) (At this point Sqn. Leader Goode recaps most of that which has gone before: ten minutes.) An experience with an Air Force theatrical company seems to imply the reason for his posting (banishment?) to Patricia Bay. (35:00) Enjoyed Canada. Emigrated after the war. Economic struggle. (45:00) Goode_C_0079_06.mp3 The remaining twenty minutes of the interview consist of comments on life in Victoria and are of no military interest.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Thackray, William S.; Torrie, Tom
• Goode, Clarence Shirley, 1896-1987

Subject

• Great Britain. Royal Air Force
• Military history
• World War (1914-1918)
• World War (1939-1945)

Language

• eng

Keyword

• Great Britain--Royal Air Force
• RAF Station (Patricia Bay, (B.C.))--Operational Training Unit, 32
• Goode, Clarence Shirley, 1896-1987--Interviews
• Radio stations--Great Britain
• Polar Bear Expedition (1918-1919)
• Metz (France)
• Radar in aeronautics
• Balloons, Kite
• Airplanes--Radio equipment
• British Broadcasting Corporation--History
• Great Britain--Army--Military life
• Aids to navigation
• World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Great Britain--Army--Royal Engineers
• World War, 1914-1918--Communications
• Aids to air navigation
• Great Britain--Air Ministry
• Military surveillance--Equipment and supplies
• Great Britain--Royal Flying Corps
• World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Military intelligence
• Trench warfare
• War--Psychological aspects
• Morse code
• Wireless communication systems
• World War, 1914-1918--Medical care
• World War, 1914-1918--Balloons
• Radiotelephone
• Radio stations--Northern Dvina River Region (Russia)
• Mobile communication systems

Date created

• June 2, 1980 to July 24, 1987

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 6 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic Coverage

• Russia (Federation)--Siberia
• France
• British Columbia
• England

Coordinates

• 60, 100
• 52.16045, -0.70312
• 46, 2
• 53.99983, -125.0032

Additional physical characteristics

• Two original sound tape reels (ca. 330 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 3 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.

Physical Repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• sound recordings
• reminiscences
• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)

Archival item identifier

• GCS_079

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• July 11, 2006

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by SC and JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. ; WWI Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2006. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

Rights

• This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/nzdb-by59

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