Being a War Correspondent is Fun! And I don't like John Monash >:(

During my time as a war correspondent, not only did I write articles, I also carried messages and retrieved wounded soldiers from the battlefield.

In early May, I travelled to Cape Helles for the Second Battle of Kirthia. During this battle I travelled to all the way to the starting line, under shrapnel fire the whole way! It’s a ghastly experience, watching your fellow soldiers fall all around you and knowing that the only way you can help them now is to carry on running.

During my time at war, I made many friends (and lost many too). One of my closest confidants during WWI was Private Arthur Bazley. He was assigned to me at a batman, in Gallipoli and then again on the Western Front. Arthur was a loyal and hard working batman, and our friendship remained untouched even after the war ended.

As a war correspondent, I had quite a lot of influence over people. Some people admired my work as they believed it was highly informative, yet also charged with emotion and feeling. Although, it did take me a while to reach that status (as when I started my journey in WWI, people were not very fond my work, to this day, I can still not figure out why on Earth they wouldn’t….).

I DON’T LIKE JOHN MONASH! Because I am racist, and he was Prussian-Jewish. He was also not my view of the ideal, typical Australian man that I was writing about in my dear, dear history of the war.
>:(

P.S:
These views are of Charles Bean’s opinions, and not Hilary, Masha or Rebecca’s.
Good day.

Check out my movie!

Gosh, a movie in commemoration of ME, wonderful ME! I’m so honoured, but really, I was expecting it. Who wouldn’t make a movie about my glorious life?

This is the trailer, which includes many highlights of me showing my bravery and chivalry! For some reason there are only 416 views and no comments, but I’m sure that Youtube blocked the comments from appearing because people were far too excited! It even shows the Queen and I casually strolling around the War Memorial, being important.

Of course there are many experts and whatnot discussing my life in high regard, but of course, again, what do you expect? This trailer encapsulates my amazing experiences and achievements. I’m sure that you’ll be hooked and want to watch the movie, however sadly, it is not available in any popular stores, though I have no idea why!

Good day and enjoy!

CHARLES BEAN GOT SHOT IN THE LEG!

Hello there again, good lady or sir.

Ah, the war, it brings back so many memories. I travelled to many places during my time as a war correspondent, following the troops to Cape Helles and Anzac Cove in Gallipoli, Turkey, and also to France and Egypt.

Oh the memories from Gallipoli, too many to count! I do remember though that one night, August 6, I think was the date, when I was following John Monash’s* 4^th Infantry Brigade at the start of the Battle of Sari Blair that I was shot by a stray Turkish bullet! Oh the pain, I remember it now, the bullet hit me right below the thigh, too. I never got the bullet removed either, because it would’ve meant that I would’ve had to leave Gallipoli. I toughed it out instead, retiring to my dugout for a few days, and my good fellow soldiers visited me to inform me on the progress of the battle.

I did eventually leave Gallipoli, on the night of the 17^th of December, a few nights before the final evacuation of ANZAC. However I returned in 1919 with a few photographers, Hubert Wilkins and George Lambert, who were taking pictures for the Australian Historical Mission. I showed them the area and ANZAC cove and also my dugout which I occupied in 1915!

I wonder what ANZAC cove looks like now…

*- Never really liked that man.

The Journey and Dreams of Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean

Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean was elected by the Australian Journalists Associations as the official war correspondent in August, 1914, by ballot. He won very narrowly, beating Keith Murdoch, by a sliver of votes. He won, and accompanied the Australian troops going to war in Europe.

Charles began in the industry by writing about wool and the business surrounding it. He also wrote and edited Volumes I to VI of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 – 1918. He edited the other volumes.

Here is an excerpt from one of the chapters he had written in the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 – 1918

“The Pozieres heights had been won, and a position of much importance gained. Gough congratulated the 2nd Division upon having "inflicted a severe defeat on the enemy and secured us most valuable ground." Haig, wisely cautious, telegraphed that the success was of "very considerable importance and opens the way to further equally valuable successes.”
– Charles Bean, Chapter II, Page 20; The Australia Offer, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918.

In 1917, the Australian War Records Section was established, due to Bean’s suggestion to Senator
George Pearce. Bean was an incredibly influential and important person.

Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean was a very important factor of the creation of the Australian War Memorial. He was a very humble man, declining knighthood as he saw it as unnecessary.

World War One

There were many reasons for World War One, including imperialism, nationalism, militarism and the alliances between countries in Europe and their armies.

Imperialism was a factor as a bigger empire was seen as a sign of power and superiority, which Germany desperately wanted. Also, the Greater Powers had many overseas colonies, getting other countries involved, and therefore increasing the range of the war.

The Alliance System was also a contributor due to certain alliances being formed and disintegrated, tension was incredibly high in Europe.

Nationalism, on the other hand, resulted in unquestionable loyalty, which, while sounds like a positive thing, meant that no-one would question its country’s actions and would follow them blindly like sheep, leading to conflict in Europe.

As the tension grew higher and higher, militarism was on the rise. The countries involved poured money into their militaries and creating larger armies, causing an arms race to begin.
All these factors combined, with the ridiculously high tension between the countries in Europe, resulted in the First World War

The Commonwealth of Australia, still part of the British Empire, immediately offered 20,000 men to Britain to assist them in the war. Australia responded to the war with widespread enthusiasm and unanimity.

An Introduction!

Why hello there good lady, sir, or variation thereupon.
I am Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean, and it is delightful to make your acquaintance!

I was born in 1879, on November 18^th, in Bathurst, New South Wales, in Australia.

When I was 10, in 1889, my family moved to England, where I attended Brentwood in Essex, then in 1894, I went to Clifton College, before I won a scholarship to Hertford college. I returned to Australia in 1904, and until 1908 I worked as a lawyer. In 1908 I joined The Sunday Morning Herald as a reporter.

In 1915, I sailed with the main body of the Australian Imperial Force to Anzac Cove. Only weeks later, I accompanied two Australian brigades at Cape Helles. I assisted wounded men under fire, and I was recommended for the Military Cross. But being a civilian, I was ineligible.

I was a rather important person, of course, being a schoolmaster, judge’s associate, barrister journalist, husband, father of an adopted child, war correspondent and historian. I was most famous for being the editor (and writer of Volumes I to VI) of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 – 1918. I was even offered knighthood, but declined.

In 1952, I became the chairman of the Australian War Memorial board.

I perished in 1968, in the Concord Repatriation General Hospital. Sad, sad event that was.

:(