Charles Jarah's father was Chilean-born Carlos Emanuel Jarah, who is is believed to have come to South Shields in the early 1870s as a seaman.

Carlos married Eleanor Atkinson in 1875 under the name Charles Emanuel Jarah and, in the 1881 census he is recorded as a naturalized British Subject. However, his naturalisation certificate was not issued until 23-Mar-1916!

By the time Charles junior was born, his father was a storekeeper in the dockyard.

Charles junior attended the High School for two years from January, 1900 on a Corporation scholarship, and left to become a bank clerk.

He initially served as a Private with the 9th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, and then in the Durham Light Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Charles died of wounds sustained in action, and is buried in the Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension, in Ypres, West Flanders.