We believe he was born in 1879 in Longton Stoke on Trent Staffordshire.
Sorry can’t help with the uniform but this is his birth registration showing mmn
TOMPKINS, CHARLES JOSEPH LAYLAND mmn MALBON
1878 D Quarter in STOKE-UPON-TRENT Volume 06B Page 274
Edit to add Charles with parents on 1891c
Edward Street, Stoke upon Trent, Staffordshire
Joseph L Tompkin Head 1857 Lamp Lighter Longton, Staffordshire
Annie Tompkin Wife 1868 Longton, Staffordshire
Charles J L Tompkin 1879 Longton, Staffordshire
Ann E Tompkin 1887 Longton, Staffordshire