Mr George Auguste Godley was born in South Stoneham, Hampshire, England on 25 June 1873. 

He was the only son of George Godley (1839-1925), a marine fireman, and Caroline Brookman (1844-1924), both Southampton-natives who had married in 1862.

George was one of five children, his siblings being: Louisa (b. 1862), Caroline (b. 1871), Ada (b. 1876) and Emily (b. 1878).

George first appears on the 1881 census when he and his family were living at 2 Graces Court, St Mary, Southampton. On the 1891 census the family were living at 31 Chapel Street, Southampton, a few doors down from Titanic crewman George Cavell; at this time George was described as a seaman and would be again when he was listed with his parents at 10 Queen Street. On the 1911 census George was absent but his parents were residing at 1 Morris Court, Orchard Lane, Southampton.

When George signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 he gave his local address as 17 Mount Street, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Irishman and as a fireman he received monthly wages of £6.

George survived the sinking of the Titanic, but it is unclear in which lifeboat he escaped. He was not called to testify at either the British or American inquiries into the disaster.

George was never married and continued a career at sea into the 1920s and beyond; he is shown working aboard Olympic from 1919 and into the opening years of the 1920s before serving aboard Majestic and Orbita and the midst of that decade. He stood at 5' 8" and weighed 152 lbs in June 1924 whilst serving as a greaser aboard Orbita. 

He continued to reside in Southampton and by 1939 was described as a retired seaman and lodging at 54 College Street in the city; that address was the home of John and Cecilia "Cissie" Lahey. Cissie Lahey would eventually marry another Titanic survivor, Walter Binstead. 

George Godley died in Southampton in 1940 aged 67; he was buried in an unmarked grave at Hollybrook Cemetery, Southampton (section E3, plot 94).