Thomas Crean
| Born | Thomas Joseph Crean 19 April 1873 Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 25 March 1923 (aged 49) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 14 st 7 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Belvedere College Clongowes Wood College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Royal College of Surgeons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Patrick Crean (son)
Frank Crean (brother) Fr Cyril Patrick Crean MBE (nephew) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Military career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch | British Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Major | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | Imperial Light Horse Royal Army Medical Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conflicts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards | VC DSO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major Thomas Joseph Crean (19 April 1873 – 25 March 1923) was an Irish rugby union player, British Army soldier and doctor. During the Second Boer War, while serving with the Imperial Light Horse, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. In 1902, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. During the First World War he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
Crean played rugby for Leinster, Ireland and the British Isles. In 1894, he was a member of the first Ireland team to win both a Home Nations Championship and a Triple Crown. Then in 1896, he helped Ireland win their second Home Nations title. He is one of three Ireland rugby union internationals to have been awarded the Victoria Cross. The other two are Robert Johnston, who also served with the Imperial Light Horse in the Second Boer War, and Frederick Harvey who served in the First World War. Crean, Johnston and Harvey all played club rugby for Wanderers. In 1896 Crean and Johnston were also members of the same British Isles squad that toured South Africa.