Thomas Crowley | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Tomislav Kraulić |
Born | 20 April 1949 Ireland |
Died | 10 June 1995 Near Dubrovnik, Croatia | (aged 46)
Buried | |
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() |
Service/ |
British Army Croatian Defence Forces |
Years of service | 1967–1991 (British Army) 1991–1995 (Croatia) |
Rank | Major (Bojnik) |
Service number | 006968 (Croatian Defence Forces) |
Unit |
Special Air Service Ante Paradžik First Battalion |
Battles/wars |
Vietnam War (claimed) Gulf War Croatian War of Independence Siege of Dubrovnik Operation Maslenica Siege of Mostar |
Awards | Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan |
Thomas Crowley (20th April 1949 – 10 June 1995) was an Irishman who fought in the Croatian War of Independence. [1]
Initially a member of the British Army, [1] he travelled to Croatia in 1991 and joined as a volunteer with the Croatian Defence Forces. [2] He was assigned to the Ante Paradžik First Battalion, and participated as a commando in battles at Dubrovnik, Livno, Mostar, Popovo Polje, Operation Maslenica, and the liberation of Skabrnje. He was wounded at Zemunik.[ citation needed]
In 1994 he led a training camp for the 114th brigade which trained more than 2,000 soldiers. [3]
Tomislav Kraulić (his other nickname which would be Croatian version of Thomas Crowley) was shy and rarely talked about himself. In his request for Croatian citizenship he wrote: "I came to Croatia to fight for its freedom. I would like to stay here after the war is over and live here if I survive. I like Croatia and Croatian people. This is my home."
He was killed in action near Dubrovnik in 1995 and is buried near Split. [4] Upon his death he held the rank of Major in the Croatian Defence Forces and in 2012 was posthumously awarded the Croatian Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan. [5] [6]