Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Stearn, a farm labourer, born 1847 in Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire, and his wife Joyce Stearn (nee Gentle, married in the 1st quarter of 1870 in the Caxton, Cambridgeshire district), born 1851 in Little Eversden, Cambridgeshire. Charles Stearn was born in the 4th quarter of 1893 in Little Evesden, his siblings were, George Gentle, a flour mill labourer, born 1877 and Fred, born 1891, the latter two siblings were both born in Little Eversden, in March 1901 the family home was at 23, Muriel Road, Leicester. In the 2nd quarter of 1901 Charles’s father died aged 54 in the Leicester district. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a baker and was residing in the family home at 33, Roslyn Street, Leicester together with his widowed mother. In 4th quarter of 1914, Charles married Louisa Mabel Harrison in the Leicester district. Charles’s elder brother Wallis, also lost his life in action at sea. Charles is commemorated on the Temperance Hall Mission memorial plaque which is now located in the Bishop Street Methodist Church, Leicester.
The War Diary records: 12 Jan-17 - Quiet day in front line, but support and reserve positions were intermittently shelled all day. Casualties:- No.34429 Pte. C. W. GOULD, No. 26899 Pte. F. DILLEY wounded. Enemy aircraft very active, flying at extraordinarily low altitudes.