Charles was born in Majorca near Maryborough in 1895 and entered the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) in 1913 as one of the first student intakes.
He was also a member of the Creswick 71st company militia.
Charles graduated in 1915, and in February 1916, he enlisted in the 59th Battalion (#1769) aged 20. Charles listed his occupation as a student, rather than a forester, when he signed up.
Promoted to the rank of Sergeant and then wounded in France, Charles, returned home in February 1919 and resumed his career with the Forests Commission.
Charles then had postings at Heathcote and Barmah (1927), Assistant Forester at Belgrave (1929), Forester at Macedon (1930), District Forester at Nowa Nowa (1934–1938), Yarrawonga (1938) and Cohuna at Gunbower (1939).
In 1942 Charles re-enlisted (V362896) in the “Home Guard” as a signaller with his old battalion based at Bendigo and rose to the rank of Captain.
After the war, Charles resumed full time employment with the Forest Commission. He was posted as Divisional Forester at Wangaratta in 1949, before retiring in 1960.
He died in 1976.
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 