Death Of Lord Cherwell Scientist-Politician

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28321, 5 July 1957, Page 14

Death Of Lord Cherwell Scientist-Politician

(N.Z. Press Associi

iation—Copyright)

OXFORD, July 3.

Lord Cherwell, who was Sir Winston Churchill’s scientific adviser during World War II and after, died last night at the age of 71, it was annc need today.

As Professor Lindemann he gave advice on many scientific matters connected with the prosecution of the war. In 1951 he was placed in charge of all matters relating to atomic energy.

Lord Cherwell, who was a bachelor, was created a viscount in 1956. He held the office of Pay-master-General from 1942 to 1945, and again from 1951 to 1953.

He was Professor of Experimental Physiology at Oxford University, and was appointed to the Order of Companions of Honour, in November, 1953.

Two months ago Lord Cherwell, commenting on Britain’s nuclear tests, said he could not understand how anyone with a logical mind could argue that Britain ought to have thermonuclear weapons but ought not to test them.

He said the argument that the tests constituted a danger to the health of humanity was “unmitigated nonsense.”

One of the first to be informed today was his old friend, Sir Winston Churchill.

Formerly Frederick Alexander Lindemann, Lord Cherwell was born at Sidmouth, Devon, in 1887, was educated in Germany, and became Doctor of Philosophy at Berlin University.

As an experimental pilot during World War I, his experiments in aerodynamics were of great value.

It was he who by personal experiment perfected a theory to control the spinning nose-dive which had taken such a toll of war pilots.

His was the brain which later developed the balloon barrage of World War 11.

Within a few days of the introduction of the German magnetic mine, the professor was ready with his counter-measures.

After World War I, the professor settled down to a career of scientific research and teaching at Oxford.

In 1939 he was an unsuccessful candidate in the Parliamentary by-election for the Oxford University seat.

The following year he became personal assistant to Sir (then Mr) Winston Churchill, and in 1942 joined the Government as Pay-master-General.

Often described as a "mystery man,” his silent, rather forbidding, exterior discouraged any personal chatter about himself.

He was a vegetarian and a teetotaller and was said to be very wealthy.