Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Alan Reid Bean was born on the 9th March 1895 (Son of George Alfred BEAN and Amelia Florence nee DAVEY) at Moonee Ponds, Victoria. His parents moved to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. There are records of his marks at the Kalgoorlie Central State School. He was later educated at Scotch College, Cranbourne, Western Australia. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1916. The Chancellor, in presenting the degrees, congratulated the candidates, and particularly the medical graduates who, he stated, had all volunteered for active service. He then became a RMO at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital.

Bean enlisted in Adelaide on 14th February 1918; he stated he had 7 months prior service in the AAMC Reserve. He was single living at the home of his Mother, Mrs G A Bean, at 10 Lanor Ave, Goodwood Park. He was 23 years, 5ft 11ins, 136 lbs, auburn hair, fair complexion and grey eyes. He embarked on the 23rd March 1918 via the 2MD Melbourne from Sydney in HMAT Persic as a captain AAMC reinforcements. From here his deployments in the north of France included, 13FdAmb, 12FdAmb, 48Bn, 46Bn, and 2AGH. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on the 19th June 1920. Bean was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Bean went to the Sheffield Infirmary to work for one year with Sir Ernest Finch after the war. He returned to Adelaide’ but footloose’ he travelled to Perth with his sister, first to Brookton for 6 months, then to Bruce Rock, 250 km east of Perth, in the wheat belt. Here he stayed 8 years and helped build a Hospital.  He married Alison Stuart daughter of Graham Stuart on the 9th November 1965, and they had two sons and a daughter. Education was soon considered critical and in 1930 the family moved to Fremantle. Here he did locum work and another son was born. Later that year he was appointed Medical Officer at the Fremantle Prison and was the Fremantle Police Doctor. He also purchased, and worked for many years, in private practice close to the Fremantle Hospital. The family lived in the Prison Doctor’s Residence. He held these positions at his death on the 21st March 1958.

Sources: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3061045....      

Personal correspondence from granddaughter.

NLA.

Photo SLSA: GRG26_5_4_01422

The Advertiser 27 July 1916