Thomas Crean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Thomas Crean

Birth name	Thomas Joseph Crean
Date of birth	(1873-04-19)19 April 1873
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Date of death	25 March 1923(1923-03-25) (aged 49)
Place of death	Mayfair, London, England
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(s)	Frank Crean (brother) Fr Cyril Patrick Crean MBE (nephew)
Spouse	Victoria Heredia
Children	Victor Crean Patrick Crean Carmen Crean
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1891-189x 1892-1895 1895-1896 1896-18xx Wanderers St. Vincent's Hospital Richmond Johannesburg Wanderers () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1894-1896 Leinster 6 0(?) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1894-1896 1896 Ireland British Isles 9 4 0(6) 0(3)

Major Dr. Thomas Joseph Crean (April 19, 1873 – March 25, 1923) was an Irish rugby union player, a brave soldier in the British Army, and a skilled doctor. He earned the Victoria Cross, a very high award for bravery, during the Second Boer War. Later, in the First World War, he received the Distinguished Service Order for his service.

Crean also played rugby for important teams like Leinster, the Irish national team, and the British Isles. In 1894, he was part of the first Irish team to win both the Home Nations Championship and the Triple Crown. He helped Ireland win another Home Nations title in 1896. Thomas Crean is one of only three Irish rugby players to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

Thomas Crean's Early Life

His Family and Where He Grew Up

An old drawing of Morrison's Hotel from 1821.

Thomas Crean was born in Dublin, Ireland, at Morrison's Hotel. This hotel was located at a busy corner of Dawson Street and Nassau Street. His family later moved to No. 21 Northbrook Road.

Thomas was the fifth child of Michael Theobald Crean and Emma. His father was a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. His grandparents owned the hotel where he was born. Thomas had several brothers and sisters. One of his brothers, Frank Crean, became an engineer and explored parts of Canada. A lake in Canada, Crean Lake, is named after him. Thomas's sister, Alice, married Alexander Findlater Todd, who was also a rugby player and a teammate of Thomas.

Thomas was named after his uncle, Dr. Thomas Joseph Crean, who was also a successful doctor. Another relative, Dr. John Joseph Crean, was a cousin who served as a senior medical officer in the army. Thomas followed in their footsteps, becoming a respected doctor and army officer.

Thomas Crean's Education and Bravery

Thomas and his brothers first went to Belvedere College and Catholic University School. Then, they became boarding students at Clongowes Wood College from 1889 to 1891. Thomas was known for being a great athlete. He was excellent at rugby, and also at running races.

He was also a very strong swimmer. In 1891, he showed his bravery while swimming near Blackrock, Dublin. He helped rescue a 21-year-old art student who was in trouble. For this brave act, he received a medal from the Royal Humane Society. In October 1891, Thomas began studying medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He became a doctor in 1896.

Thomas Crean's Rugby Journey

Playing for Clubs and Provinces

When Thomas Crean first started playing rugby, he played as a half-back. In 1891, he joined Wanderers. He later changed to play in the forward row, which is a different position. He quickly moved up to play for their main team.

While working as a young doctor at St. Vincent's Hospital, Thomas was also the captain of the hospital's rugby team for four years. He played for Leinster against other Irish teams like Ulster and Munster in 1894, 1895, and 1896. He also played for Richmond in London. When he moved to South Africa, he played for a team called Johannesburg Wanderers.

Playing for Ireland's National Team

Between 1894 and 1896, Thomas Crean played 9 games for the Irish national team and scored two tries. His first international game was on February 3, 1894, against England, which Ireland won 7–5.

He helped Ireland beat Scotland and Wales in 1894. These wins meant Ireland won the 1894 Home Nations Championship and their first ever Triple Crown. Thomas also played in all the games in 1895 and 1896. He scored both of his tries against Wales, showing his strength by pushing through defenders to score. His last game for Ireland was in March 1896.

Playing for the British Lions

In 1896, Thomas Crean was chosen to be part of the British Isles team that toured South Africa. He was one of nine Irish players on this strong team. He played in all four important test matches against South Africa and scored a try in one of them.

The team's main captain, Johnny Hammond, didn't play in all the games. So, Thomas Crean took over as captain for some matches, including two of the test games.

Thomas Crean's Military Service

Bravery in the Second Boer War

After the British Isles rugby tour, Thomas Crean decided to stay in South Africa. He worked as a doctor in a hospital in Johannesburg and continued to play rugby. In 1899, when the Second Boer War began, he joined the Imperial Light Horse as a soldier.

He was involved in important battles like the Relief of Mafeking and the Relief of Ladysmith. In October 1899, he was wounded during the Battle of Elandslaagete. It was in this battle that his former rugby teammate, Robert Johnston, also won his Victoria Cross.

In 1901, Thomas Crean became a Surgeon Captain. On December 18, at the Battle of Tygerkloof, he earned his own Victoria Cross. He bravely treated wounded soldiers and an officer while under heavy enemy fire, even after he himself was wounded. He only stopped when he was hit a second time. He was wounded in his stomach and arm.

In February 1902, he returned to England to recover. On March 12, 1902, King Edward VII presented him with the Victoria Cross. He was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. In September 1902, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a captain.

Serving in the First World War

In 1905, Thomas Crean married Victoria Heredia from Spain. They had two sons, Victor and Patrick, and a daughter, Carmen. In 1906, he left the main army to start his own private medical practice in London. He also worked as a medical officer at the hospital in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. Once, he even performed a life-saving brain surgery on a jockey who fell during a race, using simple tools.

When the First World War started in August 1914, he rejoined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served with the 1st Cavalry Brigade and was wounded several times. He was also mentioned in official reports for his brave actions. In June 1915, he received the Distinguished Service Order. He was promoted to Major in 1916 and commanded a field ambulance unit on the Western Front.

Thomas Crean's Later Years

After the war, Thomas Crean returned to his medical practice. However, his health had been seriously affected by his time in the war. He faced financial difficulties and was declared bankrupt in 1922.

Thomas Crean passed away from diabetes on March 25, 1923, at the age of 49, in London. He is buried in St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green. His Victoria Cross medal is now on display at the Army Medical Services Museum. In 2001, South Africa even issued a stamp featuring Thomas Crean to remember his service in the Second Boer War.

In 2019, a documentary called "Mark Our Place" was made about Thomas Crean and other brave rugby players from the Wanderers club who also received the Victoria Cross.

Images for kids

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  Victoria Cross