Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

129 Company Pioneer Corps

Awarded on:

March 2nd, 1944

Citation:
"On 11th November 1942 in the Bay of Bougie, troops were being disembarked and baggage and stores offloaded from H.M.T. Cathay when she was twice attacked by enemy aircraft, receiving direct bomb hits and machine gun fire and was finally abandoned. Private Coffin, who was on the boat deck while the ship was in danger of sinking directed troops and Lascar seamen into lifeboats and called to the notice of personnel in the boats afloat the danger to men drowning through being hurled into the sea by lifeboats ropes burning away, thereby saving the lives of many men. Later he was personally responsible for lowering other lifeboats into the water so enabling many personnel from other decks to get safely in the boats and, by lowering themselves from other decks, down the ropes to the lifeboats

He remained on the boat til no other personnel were left, then himself climbed down a rope to a lifeboat. This act enabled many more men to get to safety.

Throughout the evacuation of the ship, Pte Coffin showed exceptional courage and devotion to duty, entirely disregarding his own personal safety."