Charles' somewhat distinguished great-grandfather, Captain Edward Longcroft RN (c.1750–1812), had settled in Wales in the mid-1780s after returning from a lengthy period of service in the West Indies during the American War of Independence.

[1] Charles Longcroft was educated at Charterhouse, attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before May 1903 and was then commissioned into the Welch Regiment.

The first intake of cadets arrived on the following February and his post was upgraded to Air Officer Commanding RAF Cranwell.

[5] He became Director-General of Personal Services in 1923 and Air Officer Commanding, Inland Area in 1926 before retiring from the RAF at his own request on 2 November 1929.

[5] On 27 April 1921 he married the widowed Marjory Hepburn, née McKerrell-Brown, and together they had a son, Charles McKerrell Longcroft, who was born in 1926.