After release by Indian troops in September 1945, it took some time before Charles and Muriel discovered that each other were still alive and were able reunite in Cape Town, before returning to the devastated Harcroft Estate and factory in 1946. However, it was not long before Charles had everything re-equipped and back in production. Post war business was strong enough for him to purchase his first Rolls Royce in 1947. This car was similar to that of the British High Commissioner of Malaya. During the Malayan Emergency, Charles took the same road through a jungle as the Commissioner, but an hour or two beforehand, on 7 October 1951. Communist insurgents had planned to assassinate the Commissioner and mistook Charles' Rolls Royce for the official vehicle. As a result, the car was machine gunned, but the driver accelerated away and the occupants survived. The High Commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney, was not so fortunate and was killed when his convoy was brought to a halt by his wounded or dead escorts blocking the road.