L Charnley enlisted into the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry before transferring to airborne forces.He completed parachute training on Course 38 at Ringway from 20-29 October 1942.

Private Charnley was posted to the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment and served in North Africa and Italy, where he was taken Prisoner Of War into Campo 82 in Arezzo, Italy. He was transferred to Stalag 344 in Poland before being liberated by American forces in 1945.

Pte Charnley rejoined his unit and was posted to Palestine.

He was killed in a road accident on 26 July 1947 and is now buried at Khayat Beach War Cemetery in Israel.