Charles Frederick (Charlie) BEAN

BEAN, Charles Frederick

Service Number: Q217945
Enlisted: 26 May 1942
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 16th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Born: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australi, 11 October 1899
Home Town: Ayr, Burdekin, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Cane Farmer
Died: Cancer, Ayr, Queensland, Australia, November 1965
Cemetery: Ayr Cemetery, Queensland
Lot: 3850
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

26 May 1942: Involvement Private, Q217945, 16th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces, Page missing from Enlistment Register
26 May 1942: Enlisted Private, Q217945, 16th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
26 May 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q217945, 16th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
5 Nov 1945: Discharged Private, Q217945, 16th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
5 Nov 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q217945, 16th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)

Help us honour Charles Frederick Bean's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Steve Larkins

 

Son of James Bean and Elizabeth Margaret Dargatz

Biography contributed by Heather Mackay

Charlie was a quiet man, not given to bursts of temper but in his own way, he would not allow anyone to walk over him. He was always willing to help those in trouble, would not tolerate cruelty to animals. He liked children but did not have any of his own due to the fact that his wife was unable to.

Although a non-drinker, Charlie was a chain smoker and had a stomach ulcer most of his adult life. This meant that he could only tolerate bland food; no fat or spices. He seemed to always be chewing antacid tablets. He wouldn't allow the tea pot to be emptied and would come in from the paddock, at various times of the day, to have a cup of cold tea.

During the war, Charlie joined the Volunteer Defence Corps which was made up of men too old to fight, those holding necessary jobs (farming was one) or for some other reason were not called up to go to war, but were prepared to fight if the Japanese landed. When the air raid siren sounded in Ayr it could just be heard at Cock Robin Farm. Instead of getting into the shelter trench, and none of the family did, he climbed the windmill to get a better look and from there he could see the lights of the planes as they flew over Townsville.

 

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