Frank Percy Crozier
| Frank Percy Crozier | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 January 1879 Bermuda |
| Died | 31 August 1937 (aged 58) London, England |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1899–1908 1914–1920 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held |
119th (Welsh) Brigade (1916–19) 9th Battalion, 107th (Ulster) Brigade (1915–16) |
| Battles/wars |
Lithuanian Wars of Independence Irish War of Independence |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches |
Frank Percy Crozier CB, CMG, DSO (1 January 1879 – 31 August 1937) was a British military officer. His first military experience was in the Second Boer War (1899–1902) and with the Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria. During World War I, he commanded the 9th (Service) Battalion of the 107th (Ulster) Brigade in the Battle of the Somme earning him the promotion to brigadier general and command of the 119th (Welsh) Brigade in the Battle of Cambrai and Spring Offensive. After the war, he briefly served as an advisor of the newly established Lithuanian Army and commander of the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary at the time of the Partition of Ireland. However, he quickly became disillusioned with the British conduct in Ireland and war in general. He became a pacifist and published several controversial autobiographical books.
Crozier was born in Bermuda into a family of military traditions. Both of his grandfathers served in the army and his father was a major in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Crozier was not accepted into the military due to his short height and low weight. In 1898, seeking adventure, he traveled to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and briefly worked at a tea plantation. At the outbreak of the Second Boer War, Crozier traveled to South Africa and joined a mounted infantry regiment as the recruitment standards had been lowered. He saw action in the British colonies of Natal and Transvaal, including the Battle of Spion Kop. He also served in the Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria. Military duties took their toll and Crozier started drinking. In 1905, after a bout of malaria, he returned to England and joined the Manchester Regiment and the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. However, in 1908, he was forced to resign due to repeated dishonored cheques and became bankrupt.
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