Charles was born on 12 March 1909 in Essex County, Ontario. His father was born in Craighurst, Ontario and worked as a Druggist, and his mother was also born in Ontario. He had a brother John W. and a sister Mary. Charles attended Harrow Public School 1916-1923 followed by Harrow Continuation 1923-1927 and Kingsville High 1927-1928. He then went to the University of Toronto and Ontario College of Pharmacy 1931-1933. His sport interests were tennis, golf and swimming and his hobbies were photography and building radios. Charles was working as a pharmacist for his father E.F Darby, in Harrow 1933-1936, for L.K. Legette in London as pharmacist and Assistant manager 1936-1937 and he was then manager for E. F. Darby again in a branch store 1937-1940. |
He enlisted on 20 July 1940 and embarked from Canada on 1 June 1941, arriving at 3 PRC 4 June 1941. He then went to 19 OTU 6 June 1941, 77 Sqn on 1 September 1941 and 10 Sqn on 18 April 1942. He returned to Canada for special leave after this, returning via 3 (RCAF PRC) on 10 May 1944, then 61 Base on 25 May 1944, 1655 MTU on 17 July 1944 and 608 Squadron on 16 August 1944. He lost his life less than two weeks later. |