Charles Barrick Warren was born on 2nd May 1897 in Stoke Newington, London, and was the eldest of eight children. His parents were Charles Henry and Alice (née Gill). In 1911, the family was living in Stanley Villa (the waterworks house) on Bredfield Road where Charles Sr. was the waterworks manager for the Woodbridge and District Water Company, responsible for the water tower, associated borehole and pumping equipment.

On 1st October 1914, aged seventeen and a half, Charles enlisted in the Essex Yeomanry when they were billeted in Melton. Due to his age, he could not be deployed overseas and so it was not until 1916 that he was posted to France with the Royal Horse Artillery. Charles was discharged from the services on 19th July 1919. For his war service, he received the British War and Victory Medals.

In September 1920, Charles enlisted in the newly formed Royal Air Force, with whom he served for five years, including a tour of duty in Iraq. By 1939, Charles and Emily Winifred (née Greaves) were living in Merton with their young son, Donald. Charles was employed as a warehouse manager. He died in 1967.

Charles’ father, Charles Sr., died in 1934. Charles’ brother, Frederick, followed in their father’s footsteps, becoming the engineer manager of the waterworks. He continued to live in Stanley Villa until 1967. Their mother, Alice, and brother, Robert, lived next door at Northcote.