by Peter Rees
Justice Geoff Lindsay, of the New South Wales Supreme Court, was especially helpful. Justice Lindsay made available much of his own research material, gathered for his fascinating analysis of Charles Bean’s background and brief experience in law in Sydney, ‘Be Substantially Great in Thy Self: Getting to Know C.E.W. Bean, Barrister, Judge’s Associate, Moral Philosopher’. Tony Cunneen was also helpful with background on the destruction of the 18th Battalion AIF at Gallipoli.
Dr Robert Freestone, Professor of Planning at the University of New South Wales, provided invaluable help with his insights into Charles Bean’s interest and involvement in town planning, and critiqued relevant drafts. I would also like to acknowledge the earlier insightful research on Charles Bean by Dr Stephen Ellis in his Master of Arts thesis completed for the University of New England in 1969; Professor Ken Inglis and his John Murtagh Macrossan Lecture, 1969; and the 1983 book by Charles Bean’s friend Dudley McCarthy, From Gallipoli to the Somme. All contributed to filling out my personal research.
I am indebted to the retired archivist Michael Piggott, who wrote the Guide to the Personal and Official Papers of C.E.W. Bean, for his help and advice. The eminent military historians Professor Peter Stanley and Dr Michael McKernan were ever willing to discuss issues as they arose during my research and writing. I am particularly grateful for their close and rigorous reading of the manuscript and the helpful observations and suggestions that improved the book immensely. Their guidance and generosity in sharing their great knowledge of Australian military history with me is deeply appreciated. My thanks go to Craig Deayton for his help on the question of casualties after the mines exploded at Messines.
At Allen & Unwin, once again it has been my privilege to work with Rebecca Kaiser. As always, Rebecca provided constant encouragement for a book on an Australian she strongly believed deserved much greater recognition. Likewise, the ever-efficient Siobhán Cantrill and Angela Handley nursed the manuscript through production to ensure a minimum of fuss when deadlines were tight; thanks also go to Julia Cain for her copyediting, and Liz Keenan for her ever astute proofreading.
Thank you to my daughter, Gemma, who researched material for me at the Australian National Library and the State Library of New South Wales. And finally, Bearing Witness owes so much to the support and involvement of my wife, Sue. She contributed to the final shape of the book through our frequent dinner-table discussions about Charles Bean during which she offered the acute observations of the psychologist that she is. As if that wasn’t enough, she also contributed to the editing process. For this I am truly indebted to her.