Geoffrey was born on 14 May 1910 in Brentwood, Essex to Simon Rosenbaum and Esther née Caro. The family changed their surname from Rosenbaum to Rowson. Geoffrey studied at St Paul’s school and in 1927 he was the British Boys champion in chess.

In 1934 he married Elfie Graff in Marylebone and their son Henry was born the following year. Geoffrey was a chartered accountant and was involved in the film production and distribution business with his father Simon and brother Leslie before he joined the RAF.

Geoffrey was the pilot of Lancaster R5575 which departed RAF Woodhall Spa on a night operation to Berlin. Nothing was heard from the aircraft and it crashed in the Waddenzee between the Dutch coast and the Frisian islands.