Charles Wishart was born in Byker, Newcastle, on 11 March 1899. He was the youngest of nine children of David Alexander Wishart, a shipyard boilermaker, and his wife, Elizabeth Renforth. Charles spent his early years living at Harbottle Street before moving to Janet Street and then 32 Walbrook Terrace, where he was enumerated in the 1911 census living with his parents and older sister Phyllis.

On 27 February 1917, just before his eighteenth birthday, Charles enlisted in Newcastle and joined the Durham Light Infantry. He was sent into the Army Reserve until 29 June 1918, when he was mobilised for active service and posted to the 3rd Battalion, who were based in South Shields. In July Charles was temporarily attached to the 3rd Connaught Rangers and sent to join the battalion in Dover. Four months later on 6 November he was re-assigned to the Durham Light Infantry and proceeded overseas to join the 12th Battalion who had been stationed in Italy since October 1917. Based on feint writing on his service papers, it appears Charles joined his unit towards the end of November and ordered back to the UK in July 1919 and sent to the Depot Battalion with whom he served until demobilisation on 17 October 1919.

Shortly before Charles left for Italy, he married Margaret Teasdale in Newcastle on 18 September 1918, and three sons were born of the marriage. He died aged 81 in Newcastle during 1981.

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