Charles Rowe was born on 3 October 1904, the son of Lt Col Wilfred Edward Rowe and Virginia Rowe, and joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet. He joined submarines as a Sub Lieutenant in July 1927.

He was promoted Lieutenant in December 1927 and, after time in the Reserve Group, Submarines in Chatham, on 12 August 1929 was appointed to HMS H44 as First Lieutenant. In April 1932, after a spell in the battleship HMS REVENGE, he joined L18 as First Lieutenant, followed by the same position in OTWAY in May 1933.

In April 1934 he joined the Commanding Officers Qualifying Course, after which he took command of HMS STARFISH in January 1935. Promoted Lieutenant Commander in December 1935, he was appointed to command HMS GRAMPUS in August 1939. On 16 June 1940, the submarine was detected by Italian anti-submarine vessels, was attacked and sunk with all hands.

Charles Rowe was the husband of Lilian Alice Rowe. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial on Panel No. 36 Column No. 3.