Godfrey was educated at St George's Hospital, London, qualifying L.S.A. in 1893 and M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. in 1894. He held the appointments of assistant house-physician medical registrar, and assistant in the skin department at St. George’s Hospital, then went into practice at Pangbourne, Berkshire, where he was medical officer to the Post Office and Board of Education, certifying factory surgeon, honorary medical assistant to the Royal Humane Society. He was also a J.P. for Berkshire. He took up a temporary commission at the rank of Lieutenant within the R.A.M.C. on 12th March 1916, and was promoted to Captain after a years service. He was onboard H.S. “Salta” when it struck a mine and sank half a mile north of the Whistle Bouy, Havre. He drowned at sea, but his body was recovered. He was the son of Captain Arthur Briscoe Hawes and Susan Hawes; and the husband of Ellen Wyndham Hawes of Red House, Guildford, Surrey.