Clive Chartres was born in 1919, the son of Frederick William Charles and Constance Muriel Chartres (née Antill). He joined the Royal Navy as a Special Entry Cadet on 1 January 1937 and was appointed to the cruiser HMS FROBISHER on 11 January 1937 and then to the cruiser HMS VINDICTIVE on 8 September 1937. He was appointed to the Royal Navy Engineering College at Keyham for the Engineering Course on 1 January 1938. Clive Chartres was promoted to Sub Lieutenant (E) on 1 August 1939, and was further promoted to Lieutenant (E) on 16 February 1941. From 1 January 1941 to August 1942, he served in the cruiser HMS CLEOPATRA.

Clive Chartres then joined submarines and was appointed to HMS TAKU as the Engineer on 22 October 1942. This was followed by an appointment to HMS TURBULENT as the Engineer. It is thought that TURBULENT was lost with all hands on 6 March 1943, following a depth charge attack by the Italian Torpedo Boat ARDITO. Two patterns of depth-charges were dropped (the actual number is not listed in ARDITO‘s log). This attack is considered to be the explanation for the loss of TURBULENT, although it is possible that she escaped the depth charge attack and was late mined.

Clive Chartres is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel No. 73 Column No. 1.