India General Service Medal with clasp 'Burma 1930-32'
Charles was born in around March 1904 in Bethnal Green, London. He was named after his father, but we don't know anything else about his early life or family.
On the 25th May 1922 Charles joined the Army in Liverpool. He chose to enlist in the Manchester Regiment and was given the service number 3517905. He was working as a seaman when he enlisted. He carried out his basic training at the Manchester Regiment Depot in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, but we don't know anything about his career until 1930, when he was a member of the 2nd Battalion in Secunderabad, India.
The 2nd Battalion had been based in India since 1921. They were stationed at Kamptee until January 1923 then moved to Jubbulpore. In April 1925 they were sent to Rangoon in Burma, remaining there until early 1928. They then sailed up the Irrawaddy River to Maymyo in the Burmese jungle. They left Burma for Secunderabad in November 1929. We don't know when Charles joined them. The 1st Battalion was based in the UK and Germany during this period.
In December 1930 a rebellion broke out in several regions of Burma. The authorities requested more troops from India to help restore control, so Charles and the 2nd Battalion returned to the country in June 1931. They took part in patrols of the jungle and villages in their allotted area until the rebellion was brought to an end by early 1932. Charles returned to Secunderabad in early February.
The 2nd Battalion moved to Khartoum in Sudan during October 1932, and returned to the UK on the 13th December 1933. Charles left the Army on the 19th July 1934. His life after this remains a mystery. His medal was donated to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in mid 1937.
