Harry Charlwood was a Labourer from Redhill, Surrey, who enlisted into the Royal Marines on 28 August 1941. Marine Charlwood, 'B' troop, 45RM Commando, was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during the attack on Rots, Normandy, 11 June 1944. Wounded, captured and a prisoner of war until liberated when the prison camp was overrun by the 11th Armoured Division near Lubeck in May 1945. 

During the attack on Rots 9571 on 11th June, Mne Charlwood was wounded in the neck. Shortly afterwards fire was opened on the section from an unexpected direction at short range and he was wounded in the arm. This Marine then picked up a grenade and rushed at the enemy post shouting that he would deal with it thereby drawing all the fire to himself and enabling the remainder of the section to disengage and rejoin their troop. Mne Charlwood is missing.