Charles was born in Lathan, Lancashire, England in 1918 to Dr. Arthur and Dorothy Blackhurst. They arrived in Canada aboard the Steam Ship Regina on 17 August 1929 accompanied by his sister Joan who was then 14 years old. The newspaper shows he was survived by a wife and baby son in England, by sisters Mrs. Irwin Butts of Port Dover, Patricia, Virginia, Bridget and a brother Miles.