Charles Savage was born in Brightlingsea, Essex, England on 31 December 1888. He was the son of Stephen Charles Savage (1858-1919) and Eliza Alice Woods (1862-1925). Charles first appeared on the 1891 census with his parents (his father was listed as a mariner) and elder siblings Lillian (b. 1884) and Steave (b. 1887) at an address (Silcotts ?) in Brightlingsea. Another child, Winifred (b. 1883), was absent at the time. Winifred later married Titanic crewman Sidney Conrad Siebert. Savage was rescued in lifeboat 11.