Major Thomas Joseph Crean VC DSO (April 19, 1873- March 25, 1923) was born in Dublin, Ireland and educated at Clongowes Wood College and Belvedere College and the at The Royal College of Surgeons, and was an Irish soldier who received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The Distinguished Service Order ( DSO) is a Military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries awarded for Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Clongowes Wood College is a private secondary Boarding school for boys located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Belvedere College SJ is a private Secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street Dublin, Ireland. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Details

He was 28 years old, and a Surgeon Captain in the 1st lmperial Light Horse, South African Forces during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. See also First Boer War,, South African Wars (1879-1915 The Second Boer War ( Dutch: Tweede Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since

On December 18, 1901, during the action at Tygerkloof Spruit, South Africa, Surgeon Capt. Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Crean, although wounded himself, continued to attend to the wounded in the firing line, under a very heavy fire at only 150 yards range. He did not stop until hit a second time, and, as it was first thought, seriously wounded.

Further information

TJ Crean was a rugby player of note, winning nine caps for Ireland between 1894 and 1896. His first three caps were in the victories over England, Wales and Scotland which yielded Ireland's first ever Triple Crown championship in 1894.

He also toured South Africa with the British Isles touring team in 1896.

He later transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps and reached the rank of major. The Royal Army Medical Corps ( RAMC) is a specialist Corps in the British Army which provides Medical services to all British Army Major is a Military rank the use of which varies according to country He died in London, UK, on March 25, 1923, aged forty-nine. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. His grave is at St. Mary's RC Cemetery, Kensal Rise. Married Victoria Heredia in Malaga in 1905. They had two children, Patrick and Carmen.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum in Aldershot, England. The Army Medical Services Museum is located in the Defence Medical Services Training Centre Keogh Barracks on Mytchett Place Road Mytchett, Surrey, England Aldershot is a town in the English County of Hampshire, located on heathland about 60 km (37 miles southwest of London. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

References

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
• Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (W. The Register of the Victoria Cross is a Reference work that provides brief information on every VC ever awarded it provides a summary of the deed along List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients lists all Irish -born recipients of the Victoria Cross ( Post-nominal letters "VC" together with Monuments to Courage Victoria Cross Monuments and Headstones is a two-volume book by David Harvey, published in 1999 on the last resting places of 1322 of the 1350 List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients lists all Irish -born recipients of the Victoria Cross ( Post-nominal letters "VC" together with London)