Charles F. T. Heath ("Charlie")

Charlie Heath was an Australian who was badly wounded in the South African War, losing his hearing in one ear. He was an experienced still photographer, and was the London manager of Underwood and Underwood before joining the staff of the Daily Mirror. In 1913 Heath left journalism to organise publicity for British and Colonial, who were filming the ‘Battle of Waterloo,' and he became the first stills photographer to be employed by a British studio. He then joined Pathe as a film cameraman, and after the outbreak of war in 1914 he became ‘official photographer to the American Red Cross in England.' After the coming of peace in 1918 he joined the camera staff of the Gaumont Graphic, before transferring to the Topical Budget, where by July 1920 he had replaced McCabe [qv] as ‘news editor,' and was also acting as an occasional cameraman. The first item credited to him as cameraman is ‘TOMMY BURNS TRAINING’ in Topical Budget No.463-2 of July 1920, after which his work appeared regularly until November 1923, when he covered ‘ARMISTICE DAY - 1923’ for No.638-1. His final credit for Topical Budget is ‘QUEEN ALEXANDRA’ in No.744-2 of November 1925. He probably remained with the company until shortly before it closed in 1931, after which he worked for a short time for British Screen News. He is then credited with several stories for Pathe Super Sound Gazette, beginning with ‘ARMISTICE DAY SCENES IN LEEDS’ in November 1931. His final credit for Pathe was for ‘RUGBY LEAGUE FINAL’ in Pathe Super Sound Gazette from May 1934. Heath then joined Wireless Pictures, a firm sending press photographs by telegraph and wireless, before working for Studio Sound Service and as managing director of Millheath Studios. He also did film work for the National Trust.

Sources

Kine Year Book 1921, p.592, ‘Charles F. T. Heath’: Cine Technician, July-August 1939, p.47; April-May 1940, p.25: NFTVA, Luke McKernan’s biographical index of Topical Budget staff: NoS Number 130287; Topical Budget Number 744-2; Date released 30/11/1925: NoS Number 89485; Pathe Super Sound Gazette; Date released 12/11/1931: NoS Number 91276; Pathe Super Sound Gazette; Date released 7/5/1934.