Through the censuses we see that Charlton's father is a farmer in 1901 at 'Masons Farm' Peldon and Charlton is a Grocers' apprentice. By now George and Elizabeth have nine children.

In 1911 (where George is the census enumerator for Peldon) the family is listed as living at Ives Farm, Peldon, and George is a Farmer and Poultry dealer.

In WW1 Charlton was on the SS EUTERPE which was a liner of 2,270 tons, built in 1886. It was sunk on 11th August 1916 by Italian Submarine SMG-F-7. SS EUTERPE was being used as a troop ship and c 453 were lost and 450 saved including Charlton.

In 1918 he is on the Absent Voters Register and is described as Merchant engineer on HMT BRAMBLELEAF.

In 1919 his name appears on the Absent Voters Register his address is given as Strood Villa [Pyefleet House] and he is described as a Merchant Engineer on the SS Euterpe [out-of-date because the EUTERPE was sunk in 1916]. On the register of electors in 1921 he is living with his family at Strood Villa.

In 1932 we find him returning to Southampton from New York on board the SS BREMEN arriving on 17th November 1932. His occupation is that of engineer, he is 45 and his address is given as Norfolk Cottage, Peldon, Essex.

TEMPLE MOAT built 1928 4,427 tons gross

The next we hear of him is in 1941 in the local newspaper where despite his age, 55, he is again on war service on board a Merchant Ship, this time, 3rd Engineer Officer on SS TEMPLE MOAT.

MISSING AT SEA The shipping office has reported that Second Engineer (Merchant Navy) Officer Charlton Cyril Mason second son of the late George Mason of Peldon must be presumed lost at sea. Engineer Mason had a lucky escape round Narvik but lost all belongings there. He was afterwards taken prisoner by the French in Algiers and was six months in captivity, but was finally released and sent to Gibraltar, joining his ship in January 1941. He afterwards left for America.
Essex County Standard 10.5.1941

That trip at the beginning of 1941 on board the TEMPLE MOAT was to be his last. The TEMPLE MOAT was a Merchant Navy vessel en route from Blyth to Buenos Aires carrying 6,130 tons of coal. It was part of the convoy, OB288, but had been dispersed. At 01.45 hours on 24th February 1941 the ship was hit by one torpedo from the U boat U-95 and sank fast by the bow about 240 miles south of Iceland (59° 27'N, 20° 20'W - Grid AL 2331). The master, Thomas Ludlow MBE, 39 crew members and two gunners were lost.

There were no survivors.

Charlton's probate was administered by his married sister, Gladys Pullen.
MASON Charlton Cyril otherwise Charles of the Lion Garage, Abberton, Essex, died on or since 23 February 1941 on war service. Administration (with Will) Llandudno 27 February to Gladys Frances Pullen (wife of Ernest Edgcomb Pullen) Effects £333.9s.9d
[Gladys Frances Mason married Ernest Edgecomb Pullen at Peldon, 11 August 1936.]

Charlton Cyril Mason's name appears on the Tower Hill Memorial to men of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who gave their lives and have no grave but the sea.

POSTSCRIPT
It is clear his family were immersed in village life, his father George was clerk to the Peldon Parish Council from 1894 to just before his death in 1936. On George's behalf his son Arthur Blackwell Theobald Mason accepted a presentation from the Parish Council and stepped into George's position.

PARISH COUNCIL PRESENTATION A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Friday March 20, Mr E Walker presiding. The Chairman said that it was with regret that the Council found itself obliged to accept the resignation on account of ill-health of Mr George Mason, who had held the office of clerk since its formation in 1894. His son Mr Theobald Mason was appointed to fill the vacancy. The meeting which followed was open to the public, when an interesting ceremony took place, viz the presentation of a chiming clock inscribed as follows:- 'Presented to Mr George Mason by the parishioners, after 42 years' service as clerk to the Peldon Parish Council'. The clock was received by Mr Theobald Mason , who in thanking the parishioners, said he was sure his father would greatly value it; he would regret having been too unwell to be present to receive the gift in person. Essex County Standard 28.3.1936

George Mason was to die on 25th November in 1936.

There is no memorial in St Mary's Church to his son Charlton, nor the other three who died in World War 2. Is it not time that, as Peldon's vicar wrote in 1946, there should be a plaque in the church?

Roll Of Honour December 15 1946
Four people lost their lives serving their country in World War 2 (1939 -1945)
Petty Officer W Heap Royal Navy
Private J Hodson Army
Pilot Officer J Scales RAF
C Mason Merchant Navy
It is hoped to place a suitable plaque in the church to the above.

From "Some Record of the Parish Of Peldon Rev C.R. Harrison 1867" D/P 287/28/6 Essex Records Office