Charles was born in 1920 and was the son of Charles Ellis Bryan MM. and Elizabeth Ann Bryan from Skegby, Nottinghamshire.   He was employed by the Sutton Greyhound Racing Company before enlisting on 28th September 1938 at the outbreak of WW2.  He was posted to the 8th Battalion and after a short time training in England, he was sent with the Battalion to take part in the Norway Campaign in 1940.  The Battalion landed at Andalsnes and made its way inland towards Lillehammer, from where it operated in and around the Gudbrandsdalen Valley.   

Charles was Killed in Action on 25th April 1940 by rifle and mortar fire south of Lillehammer, Norway whilst attempting to stop the German advance up the Gudbrandsdalen Valley