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| Page revised: 14 January, 2008 |
Brigadier-General Clifford COFFIN VC |
| Born: | Blackheath, London - 10 February 1870 | 
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| Died: | Torquay, Devon - 4 February 1959 | ||
| Burial details: | Holy Trinity Churchyard, Coleman's Hatch, Kent | ||
| Corps service: | Commissioned into the Corps in 1888. His first overseas
posting was to Jamacia with the Submarine Miners (1887-94). He served
in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). He was the Aide de Camp to King
George V from 1920-24. Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Engineers,
1936-40. During World War Two (1939-45) he was the chairman of the
executive council of the British Empire Service League. Retired as Major General C Coffin VC, CB, DSO* |
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| VC awarded: | Won VC at Westhoek Ridge, Ypres, on 31 July 1917. (First World War 1914-18) | ||
| VC unit: | Commanding the 25 Infantry Brigade. | ||
| VC presented: | VC presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 2 January 1918. | ||
| VC citation: | For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On
31 July when his command was held up in attack owing to heavy machine-gun
and rifle fire from front and right flank, and was establishing itself
in a forward shell-hole line, he went forward and made an inspection
of his front posts. Though 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 shellhole to shell-hole,
giving advice generally, and cheering the men by his presence. His
very 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 in spite of the very heaviest fire. Throughout the day
his calm courage and cheerfulness exercised the greatest influence
over all with whom he came in contact, and it is generally agreed
that Brigadier-General Coffin's splendid example saved the situation,
and had it not been for his action the line would certainly have been
driven back. (London Gazette: 14 September 1917) |
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| VC location: | Royal Engineers Museum | ||
| Background: | Coffin won his VC on the first day of the third battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The objective of the attack was to capitalise on rge success of the assault on Messines (June 1917) and to capture the remainder of the ridge, as far north as Passchendaele. The battle began at 3.10 am on 31 July 1917. Coffin was commanding 25th Infantry Brigade, a reserve brigade, but when the advance to the west of the Ypres became bogged-down his brigade was ordered forward to Westnoek ridge to carry on the attack to the third objective (Red Line), when his brigade also became bogged -down, through the affects of the appalling weather and ferocious enemy opposition, he went forward and while under murderous fire allied his men. By the evening his presence ensured that his troops were 'holding with tenacity' which caused the German counter-attacks to fail. | ||
| Source:
Additional material: SC Fenwick, FoREM Links to further reading:
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Royal Engineers Museum main site
