Died in the sinking of the Japanese merchant vessel, Harugiku Maru. Charles was a POW, being transported on the ship.

On 26 June 1944, the following day Harugiku Maru left Belawan, the port city of Medan, Sumatra, she joined a convoy composed of a tanker and freighter, and was steaming down the Strait of Malacca. Shortly before 10:00, approx. 100 NM southeast of Belawan, HMS Truculent sighted a convoy consisting of a 4,000-ton freighter and two small freighters escorted by two sub-chasers and one mine layer was steaming down the narrow strait. At 1112, Truculent fired four torpedoes, and two of which hit the freighter.

By the torpedo attack of Truculent, Harugiku Maru broke in two and sank with her stern lying on its side in the shallow water. The POWs were immediately allowed to evacuate over the side. Although she sank within 15 minutes of the torpedo hits, the loss of lives were not large, as the sea was calm and the Japanese did their best to rescue the POWs. However, at a later date, they were accused by the POW survivors of not having enough life-preserving equipment, and not providing treatment for the wounded.