In 1914 Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean was selected as Australia’s official war correspondent to the First World War. He was present at the Gallipoli landing and remained close to Australian troops throughout the war. He was recommended for a Military Cross for bravery two weeks after the Gallipoli landing, but as a civilian was ineligible and was instead Mentioned in Despatches. In August 1915 he was shot in the leg but chose to remain on Gallipoli in order to continue reporting.

Bean produced extensive diary entries, capturing his impressions of the actions, people and places as he observed them. By the end of the war he had filled 226 notebooks in his capacity as war correspondent. He observed Australian troops collecting battlefield souvenirs and envisaged the creation of a museum featuring such items. Upon his return to Australia he became a driving force in establishing the Australian War Memorial and was instrumental in creating the Australian War Records Section, and collecting many items for it.

Accession number ART40924

The story of Charles Bean

First World War Correspondent

John Stuart Dowie was an accomplished painter and sculptor who served as a sergeant and war artist in the Australian Army during the Second World War, becoming one of the Rats of Tobruk. Dowie wrote to Mrs Bean requesting photographs of the late Dr Bean, and regularly updated the Memorial on his progress.

Dowie also invited key staff from the Memorial to inspect the bust throughout his sculpting process, prior to his delivery of the completed artwork almost six months ahead of schedule.

Bronze bust: C.E.W. Bean