Private Charles Payne was born in the Parish of Crockerton, Wiltshire and attested for the 9th Lancers at Liverpool in March 1878, aged 23 years. His subsequent service in the Second Afghan War won him entitlement to the Medal with clasps for 'Kabul' and 'Kandahar', in addition to the Star (WO/100/51 refers). Payne transferred to the 12th Lancers in October 1885 and to the 21st Hussars in October 1889 and he was discharged at Canterbury in the latter year.