Charles Marsden was born in 1894. He was educated at Kilburn Grammar School, London.

He joined the Royal Navy and trained as a cadet in HMS Conway, 1910-12. He was also a cadet with the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, 1912-13. He was promoted Midshipman and served in the Royal Naval Reserve in HMS St Vincent, 1913-15, and HMS Macedonia, 1915. He transferred to the Royal Navy, 1916, and joined HMS Southampton, 1915-19. He was Navigating Plotting Officer in HMS Southampton at the Battle of Jutland and was wounded there, 1916. He was promoted Sub-Lieutenant and Lieutenant during the war. He took a short course at Cambridge University, 1919-20, and was appointed Navigating Officer in HMS Veronica, 1920-1. He served in HMS Wolfhound and HMS Vega, 1922-4; was promoted Lieutenant-Commander in HMS Resolution, 1924-6; and commanded HMS Tourmaline in Gibraltar, 1926, HMS Mackay, 1926-7, and HMS Veteran on the China Station, 1927-9. He commanded HMS Dunoon, 1929-32, and HMS Thanet and HMS Tenedos, 1932-5. He was promoted Commander (retired) and worked on the staff of HM Dockyard, Devonport, 1935-42. From 1940, he was recruited to the DEMS Organisation (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships) and served as a Captain, South West Approaches, 1942, Middle East, 1943-5, and Thames Area, 1945-7. He was promoted Acting Captain (retired).

He retired in 1947.