Charles Henry Langtree (23 April 1883 – 3 August 1916) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

He was wounded in World War I while serving with the British Army, and later died of his injuries.

Family The son of Charles William Langtree (1848–1899),Presentation to Mr. C.W. Langtreee, The Ballarat Star, (Saturday, 13 July 1889), p.4.Death of Mr. C.W. Langtree, The Argus, (Monday, 23 January 1899), p.5.Deaths: Langtree, The Prahran Telegraph, (Saturday, 28 January 1899), p.5. and Jeannie Langtree (-1915), née McCracken,Marriages: Langtree—McCracken, The Argus, (Friday, 16 October 1874), p.1.Deaths: Langtree, The Leader, (Saturday, 20 February 1915), p.56. Charles Henry Langtree was born at Moonee Ponds, Victoria on 23 April 1883.Births: Langtree, The Age, (Saturday, 28 April 1883), p1. He was the grandson of Alexander McCracken (1856–1915), the first president of the VFL.

He grew up on the family property, "Ulundi", at Warrenbayne in north-eastern Victoria.

Education He was educated at Haileybury College, where he excelled at both cricket and football and at Dookie College.'Franziska', "Mainly About People", The (Perth) Daily News, (Thursday, 24 August 1916), p3.

Football Langtree "attended Dookie College before being recruited to Collingwood as 'an old boy' from Haileybury College".McFarlane, Glenn, "Club Stories: One Shot at Glory", Collingwood Forever.

Having played for a Collingwood team a week earlier (21 July 1900) in a match against a Bright District team,Bright, The Ovens and Murray Advertiser, (Saturday, 28 July 1900), p.12. he played his only senior VFL game, at the age of 17, against St Kilda at the Junction Oval on 28 July 1900.Collingwood had rested six of its most experienced players – Arthur Leach, Bill Proudfoot, Charlie Sime, Alby Tame, Doug Watsford, and George Williams – following the team's visit to north-eastern Victoria.It was also Bob Carmichael's only VFL game.

He enlisted in the British Army in World War I, and served in the 159th Brigade Royal Field Artillery with the rank of Lieutenant.

Death He died of wounds sustained in action (in the Battle of the Somme) on 3 August 1916.Deaths: Langtree, The Age, (Friday, 11 August 1916), p.1.Deaths: Langtree, The Argus, (Friday, 11 August 1916), p.1.Dookie College Boy Killed, The Shepparton Advertiser, (Monday, 14 August 1916), p3.Roll of Honor: Lieut. C.H. Langtree (Died of wounds), The Benalla Standard, (Tuesday, 15 August 1916), p.3.Will, The Ballarat Star, (Wednesday, 10 January 1917), p.4.In Memoriam: On Active Service, The Argus, (Friday, 3 August 1917), p.1.

He is buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, in Corbie, France.

His name is recorded on the Warrenbayne War Memorial.Memorial to Fallen Soldiers Unveiled at Warrenbayne, The Euroa Advertiser, (Friday, 11 June 1920), p.4.Warrenbayne War Memorial, Monument Australia.

See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service

Footnotes

References

Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. Main, J. & Allen, D., "Langtree, Charles", pp. 96–97 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. "73. Lieutenant Charles Henry Langtree", p.13 in Batchelder, A,, Melbourne Cricket Club Roll of Honour 1914-1918, Melbourne Cricket Club. Commemorative Roll: Lieutenant Charles Henry Langtree, Australian War Memorial.

External links

Charles Langtree, at Collingwood Forever. Lieutenant Charles Henry Langtree, at Commonwealth War Graves Commission.