He was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Western Australian Legislative Council from 1947 to 1950, representing Central Province.
He enlisted for military service on 6 October 1917, and was an orderly in the dental corps of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and attended non-commissioned officer training before embarking overseas on 29 October 1918; however, with the end of the war on 11 November he was reported as returning home in December.
He was discharged on 17 January 1919, re-enlisted with the Home Service Corps the next day, and worked in the military headquarters in Perth until 1920, having made sergeant in June 1919.
He withdrew from the partnership in 1932, returned to Perth and worked as a branch manager for Bruce Small Pty Ltd. Daffen then moved to Geraldton in 1936, where he worked for Young Motors Limited as manager of their radio and sports department until his election to parliament.
[1][3][6][7] Daffen was elected to the Legislative Council at a by-election on 30 August 1947 caused by the death of John Drew.