Charles Smith was one of fourteen children to Gaius and Harriett Smith, 2, Railway Terrace, Blaenavon. The family moved from Midsomer Norton in Somerset to find work in the Big Pit at Blaenavon, completing the whole journey on foot. Corporal Charles Smith was a miner at Big Pit and was a weekend soldier with the Territorial Army with the 5th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. The criteria for receiving the medal was a minimum of twelve years service in the Territorial Army with war service.