Charles enlisted on 18th February 1907. He was 26 years old, and was a Bookmaker by trade. He entered the war in France on 16th August 1914 with the 4th Field Ambulance. His name appears on a list of R.A.M.C. personnel who were taken captive up to & including 31st December 1914. His address was given as 39 Almeria Road, Battersea Rise, London. S.W. - (kindly provided by Steve Mattocks). In the early hours of 26th August, the 4th Field Ambulance were ordered to go to Landrecies to treat and evacuate the wounded. A couple of hours after entering the town the Germans arrived, and Charles became one of 219 of the rank and file of the R.A.M.C. to be held captive there. He was taken to Germany entering Sennelager POW camp on 4th September 1914. He returned to the U.K. in June 1915. On 21st July 1915 he embarked for Egypt with the 25th Casualty Clearing Station, arriving on 4th August 1915. In October 1917 he suffered an attack of malaria, resulting in several admissions into his own unit. The last of the attacks were in September 1918. On 27th December 1918 and on 19th January 1919 he was sent for temporary duty as a Medical Orderly with the 2nd Bn. Cheshire Regiment. He returned to No 25 C.C.S. in 31st January 1919 then went with the unit to Russia. He embarked for the U.K. on 22nd April 1919, then was discharged to Army Reserve on 7th June 1919.