Clifford Coffin
Brigadier-General, Corps of Royal Engineers, Commanding the 25th Infantry Brigade
- Register No.
- 228 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Brigadier-General (register: Temp. Brigadier General) all Brigadier-Generals →
- Unit
- Corps of Royal Engineers, Commanding the 25th Infantry Brigade all Corps of Royal Engineers VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 14th September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 10th February 1870 at Blackheath, London
- Died
- 4th February 1959 at Torquay, Devon
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 31st July, 1917 at Westhock, Belgium, when his command was held up in attack owing to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Brigadier-General Coffin went forward and made an inspection of his front posts. Although under the heaviest fire from both machine-guns and rifles and in full view of the enemy, he showed an utter disregard of personal danger, walking quietly from shell-hole to shell-hole giving advice and cheering his men by his presence. His gallant conduct had the greatest effect on all ranks and it was largely owing to his personal courage and example that the shell-hole line was held
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COFFIN, Clifford. (reg No. 228).
Brigadier-General. Corps of Royal Engineers, Commanding the 25th Infantry Brigade.
London Gazetted on 14th September 1917.
Born on 10th February 1870 at Blackheath, London.
Died on 4th February 1959 at Torquay, Devon.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 31st July, 1917 at Westhock, Belgium, when his command was held up in attack owing to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Brigadier-General Coffin went forward and made an inspection of his front posts. Although under the heaviest fire from both machine-guns and rifles and in full view of the enemy, he showed an utter disregard of personal danger, walking quietly from shell-hole to shell-hole giving advice and cheering his men by his presence. His gallant conduct had the greatest effect on all ranks and it was largely owing to his personal courage and example that the shell-hole line was held.
Additional information:. Major General Coffin also was a Companion of (the Order of) the Bath (CB) as well as being awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar. He was the Aide de Camp to King George V from 1920-24. Was also Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Engineers, 1936-40. During World War Two he was the chairman of the executive council of the British Empire Service League.
Additional information
Major General Coffin also was a Companion of (the Order of) the Bath (CB) as well as being awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar. He was the Aide de Camp to King George V from 1920-24. Was also Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Engineers, 1936-40. During World War Two he was the chairman of the executive council of the British Empire Service League.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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