Upon medical discharge from the Grenadier Guards on 5th June 1916 it became clear that Charles was interested to try and further a career in music, specifically playing the harp and thereafter singing. Due to the injury received in 1914 it was considered that a full size harp would likely be too large and heavy for him to maintain and move around for recitals and concerts. According to a report in The San Francisco News dated 28 March 1934 it was whilst he was convalescing in hospital some of the fellow injured military personnel made a smaller version of a harp, more in line with the Irish Harp. In addition to the size and weight of the “standard” harp it also requires use of foot pedals. We have managed to ascertain that he seems to have benefitted from being under the tutelage of Gwendolen Mason who was, amongst other titles, Professor of Harp at the Royal School of Music in London. Mrs Mason was also connected to the Royal College of Music. Through contact with the Royal College of Music Library Department it seems that Charles was not a pupil at the RCM but that he was taught privately by Mrs Mason to play the harp.

Around the same time he also learned to sing soprano and then baritone, this time under the guidance and expert eye of Francis Harford and Harry Plunkett Greene both of the Royal College of Music in London. Again there is no specific detail on the length of his training however he seems to have been tutored privately by both Mr Harford and Mr Plunkett Greene. In 1928 he was part of a group, or ensemble, called The Westminster Glee Singers. The ensemble toured the world giving recitals of old songs, ditties and shanties originating predominantly from the UK and Ireland. Among the countries visited were Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA (including Hawaii) and South Africa. He toured fully with the Westminster Glee Singers for a further year, 1929. In 1930 he seems to have started the world tour with the Singers but then left their company sometime during the tour, staying in Hawaii until 1935.

Thankfully for our understanding of his life he kept fastidious details of the reviews that were given by the critics and newspaper columnists in most of the towns and cities that he performed in. The collection of newspaper articles started during his travels with the Westminster Glee Singers and was continued beyond his leaving their company seemingly mid tour in 1930. We are trying to preserve the reviews and will look to publish them on the site in due course.

An anomaly that has arisen is that his Army Discharge papers show his name to be Charles Connor, however he reverted to an older version of the surname of O’Connor for the musical endeavours of his earlier life. It is understood that he chose the older “Irish” version of his surname in order that there might be better association with the songs being sung and played.