24 Washington Street

Sergeant Edward “Ted” Bean

Edward “Ted” Bean was born in Paris in 1902, the son of William and Anne “Annie” Bean and the younger brother of William. He was educated in Paris schools and attended St. James Anglican Church. The family lived at 24 Washington Street when he was growing up. At the time of the 1931 Census, he was renting a house on Catherine Street with his wife Olive and one son, Edward “Teddy” Albert. However, in the telephone directory, only Mrs. E. Bean is listed. Ted was working as a foreman with the Gypsum, Lime and Alabastine Ltd in Paris.

He enlisted in June, 1940, his attestation paper lists his address as Clarence Street in Woodbridge, Ontario, just north of Toronto. And we know that he was an employee of the Nu-Wall Company of Toronto when he enlisted in Galt (now Cambridge) with the Highland Light Infantry. In 1940, he listed his next of kin as his wife Olive, but that seems to have been crossed out six months later and his next of kin at that time was changed to his mother Anne. In 1944, his wife Olive was remarried and living in Brantford and his three children, Teddy, Tom, and Olive, were still with his mother on Washington Street.

Ted served as an instructor with the Highland Light Infantry in Brockville for three years before going overseas. He returned to Canada briefly before he returned to Europe to join the Regina Rifles. He had been in action with this unit only three months when he was killed in action in France, on August 16, 1944, in the aftermath of D-Day.

D-Day was the most pivotal battle of the Second World War. On June 6, 1944, the Canadian Army played a significant role in the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, specifically landing on Juno Beach. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade were the main forces involved, with the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force providing crucial support. 

Ted’s older brother, William Bean also enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. He was a Private when he was wounded in action, but we know little more about him at this time.

(Some of this information was taken from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial created by Veterans Affairs Canada)