Charles Laurie Price was born on 31 October 1913 at Redfern, New South Wales to Frederick and Thelma (née King) Price. He lived at Undercliffe, New South Wales with his family and worked as a salesman and accountant before enlisting in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 29 June 1940.

Price married Marion Theresa Wallace on 27 December 1940 at Petersham, New South Wales, and embarked for overseas service on the “Queen Mary” on 2 February 1941 as part of the 2/10 Australian General Hospital. He served in Malaya as a private, then staff sergeant, and his duties included caring for sick and wounded Australian soldiers. In February 1942 Price was captured as a prisoner of war when Singapore fell to the Japanese. He was interned at Changi camp and continued to work in the hospital. In September 1941, he had a daughter named Judith May. Price was later transferred from Changi to Kranji camp, where he remained until the end of the war.

After the war, Price struggled with the consequences of malnutrition and illness that he experienced while a prisoner. He was discharged from the Army at his own request on 16 April 1946, and worked as a clerk. He lived with his family at Yowie Bay, New South Wales, and later Dapto, New South Wales. Charles Laurie Price died on 3 December 1957, at the age of 44. He is remembered at Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales.