Clifford Coffin
| Clifford Coffin | |
|---|---|
Major General Clifford Coffin
|
|
| Born |
10 February 1870 Blackheath, London, England, |
| Died | 4 February 1959 (aged 88) Torquay, Devon, England |
| Buried at | Holy Trinity Churchyard, Colemans Hatch, East Sussex |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1888 - 1924 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Royal Engineers |
| Commands held | 25th Infantry Brigade |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
| Relations | Isaac Coffin (father) |
Major General Clifford Coffin VC, CB, DSO & Bar (10 February 1870 – 4 February 1959) was an officer in the British Army and was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in Blackheath, the son of Lieutenant General Sir Isaac Coffin. He was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers. He served in the Second Boer War and was mentioned in dispatches.
He was 47 years old, and a temporary brigadier general, Commanding the 25th Infantry Brigade during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 31 July 1917 in Westhoek, 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.
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