The son of a master baker, Charles learnt to bake, but ran away at the age of 22 to join the Merchant Navy.

[3] Whilst in Buenos Aires on board the Andes in October 1914, he heard word that Shackleton had fired the expedition's cook, for drunkenness, and was subsequently hired.

A few days after the crew arrived on Elephant Island, Green collapsed from exhaustion, and was ordered to rest until he recovered.

During this trip, Shackleton gave Green a set of lantern slides before his death shortly after arrival at South Georgia.

After returning to England in 1922, Green once again rejoined the Merchant Navy, working on board a variety of ships until his retirement in 1931.