George Edwin Coaffee was born 11th March 1878 in Walcot, Somerset. He was the youngest of six children born to George and Lucy Coaffee.

His first period of service in the Royal Navy began on 6th February 1895 on the HMS Northampton, when he was 16 years old. At that time the HMS Northampton was a boys’ training ship. George married Edith Jane Kerslake in Devonport in 1902. In 1903 their only child Edwin John, was born.

He was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s medal for the following act of bravery:
“On the 26th of June 1905, a stoker named Hughes  accidentally fell overboard from HMS Montagu at Torbay. At great risk, Coaffee jumped in and supported him till they were picked up by a boat.”

He joined the crew of the Laurentic as Master at Arms on 2nd November 1916.
He is buried in St Mura’s, Upper Fahan Churchyard, Donegal.