Geoffrey Saxton White was born to William Henry and Alice (nee Sales) on 2nd July 1886 in Beckenham, Kent. Educated at Bradfield College, in September 1902, he was appointed a naval cadet on the armoured cruiser HMS Aboukir, serving with the Mediterranean Fleet.

On 28 January 1918 in the Dardanelles, Turkey, Lieutenant-Commander White, now in command of submarine E.14, was under instructions to find the German battlecruiser, Goeben, which was reported to be aground. She was not found, however, and E.14 turned back.

Then came the following sequence of events, for which White was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross: Admiralty, S.W., 24th May, 1919.

“The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers: — Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Saxton White, R.N. For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as Commanding Officer of H.M. Submarine "E 14" on the 28th of January, 1918. "E 14" left Mudros on the 27th of January under instructions to force the Narrows and attack the "Goeben" which was reported aground off Nagara Point after being damaged during her sortie from the Dardanelles. The latter vessel was not found and "E 14" turned back. At about 8.45 a.m. on 28 January a torpedo was fired from "E 14" at an enemy ship; 11 seconds after the torpedo left the tube a heavy explosion took place, caused all lights to go out, and sprang the fore hatch. Leaking badly the boat was blown to 15 feet, and at once a heavy fire came from the forts, but the hull was not hit. "E 14" then dived and proceeded on her way out. Soon afterwards the boat became out of control, and as the air supply was nearly exhausted, Lieutenant-Commander White decided to run the risk of proceeding on the surface. Heavy fire was immediately opened from both sides, and, after running the gauntlet for half-an-hour, being steered from below, "E 14" was so badly damaged that Lieutenant-Commander White turned towards the shore in order to give the crew a chance of being saved. He remained on deck the whole time himself until he was killed by a shell.”

Geoffrey's body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.