John Henry Godfrey was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, in July 1888. He was educated at King Edward Grammar School, Birmingham, and Bradfield College. In 1903 he served on "HMS Britannia" as a naval cadet, being promoted Midshipman (1904), Acting Sub-Lieutenant (1907), Sub-Lieutenant (1908) and Lieutenant (1909). He served in the destroyer "Welland" (1909), the "Bramble" (1910-12), "Blanche" (1913), "Charybdis", (1914) and "Euryalus" (1914-16).

He was promoted Lieutenant-Commander (1916) and served in the Mediterranean and Black Sea (1917-19). He was also mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Légion d'honneur (Chevalier) and the Order of the Nile.

After his appointment as War Staff Officer in the Home Fleet in 1919, and promotion to Commander in 1920, he served in Plans Division (1921-23), and at the Staff College, Greenwich (1923-25). He was appointed second in command of "Diomede" in New Zealand (1925-28), promoted to Captain in 1928, was Deputy Director, Staff College (1929-31), and commanded "Suffolk" in the China Station (1931-33), before returning as Deputy Director, Plans Division (1933-36).

His commanded "HMS Repulse" in the Mediterranean (1936-38) and then served as Director of Naval Intelligence and Rear-Admiral (February 1939-December 1942). In 1942 he was appointed Vice-Admiral. Godfrey was subsequently appointed Flag Officer commanding the Royal Indian Navy in February 1943. He had been placed on the retired list and promoted Admiral (September 1945) but continued to serve in his old rank until March 1946. He returned to England and after leave finally retired in September 1946.

Godfrey was awarded CB in 1939. He died in August 1971 at Eastbourne.