George William Dean

Rank:

Sergeant

Regimental number:

11539

Unit at enlistment:

2nd Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

St. John's Norway Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Essex

Birth city:

Romford

Address at enlistment:

5 George Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

5 George Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Labourer

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX March 27, 1916

Close to 200 invalided soldiers reached Quebec on Saturday evening from St. John, where they disembarked from the Allan lined Sicilian. Among the number were two Brantford men, George William Dean and Albert John Herod.

March 30, 1916

Two Soldiers Will Return Home Tonight – Invalided Home, Two Brantford Heroes’ Will Arrive Tonight at 7.32 Over G.T.R.

Two more of Brantford’s heroes, Pte. Albert John Herod, and Lance-Corp. George William Dean are expected back in the city tonight on the 7.32 International Limited. Word to that effect was received by Ald. J.S. Dowling, chairman of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, this morning, and since that time he has been busy making arrangements to give these young men, who have been wounded in defense of their country, a suitable reception. The 84th and 125th bands and several companies of soldiers will parade to the station to meet the train and welcome their wounded comrade’s home, while Mayor Bowlby, Ald. Dowling and several of the city aldermen will be on hand to give the boys an official welcome.

BX April 1, 1916

Awaited Veteran

Around the headquarters of the 125th Battalion this morning the officers were anticipating a visit from Lance-Corp. George William Dean, who returned from the front last evening. Reminiscences of old camp days at the Niagara Camp when he was one of the expert cooks with the 38th Dufferin Rifles brought back to memory some of the excellent dishes he used to serve up. Corp. Dean was formerly a member of Lieut.-Col. Cutcliffe’s company in the Dufferin Rifles.

BX April 1, 1916

Returned Heroes, Private Herod and Lance-Corp. Dean Were Given a Splendid Welcome – Men Who Early in War Responded to the Empire’s Call were Tendered a Royal Reception on Their Return Home – Invalided Through Effects of Trench Warfare

After having taken their share in the world struggle, Lance Corporal George William Dean, 5 George Avenue, and Private Albert John Herod, 64 Richardson Street, two more Brantford veterans from the battle line in France reached the city last evening and were accorded a royal welcome that easily outdid any previous ones. Two military bands, hundreds of soldiers and a throng of citizens surrounded the station when the 7.33 train brought the heroes back home. Touching was the scene at the station when they met their wives in a waiting automobile after an absence of two years.

Two minutes ahead of time, the International Limited pulled into the station last evening and as it slowed down the big crowd was expectantly hushed. A few passengers got off the train, but there was no sight of the returned and expected heroes. The crowd began to imagine they had not arrived when there was a cry “There they are.”

Then from thousands of throats went forth a cheer and the representatives of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission had a hard task assisting them to the waiting automobiles. In one of these were sitting the expectant wives and a moment later the car was the centre of a touching scene that brought tears to many an eye. Outwardly, except for signs of being excited, both men looked fairly fit. Pte. Herod, however, wore black glasses.

More cheers and martial airs from the massed bands of the 84th and 125th bands and the parade was formed. With the bands playing in the lead, then the soldiers of both battalions and following this the incapacitated soldiers, the parade started down Market Street, with the throng following.

Instead of forming up on the north side of the Market Square, where the civic reception to returned soldiers is generally given, the concourse betook itself to the square facing the headquarters of the 215th Battalion. Here, using the car of honor as a platform, several prominent citizens fittingly welcomed the heroes home.

Dean’s Experiences

In the return of Lance-Corporal G.W. Dean it is the second war reunion for his wife and family, as he was through the South African campaign, as well as the present great struggle. His duty to his country was made under great sacrifice. When war was declared and the Motherland called for help from Canada he was one of the first four or five to respond from Brantford. In making this response he left behind a wife and family of six children.

Shortly after his arrival home last evening an Expositor reporter for a few minutes disturbed a happy reunion at 5 George Street. With his joyous family surrounding him Corp. Dean reticently consented to answer a few questions, but in a most modest manner. He had been through the famous battles of Festubert, Givenchy and St. Julien, but he had little to say of them.

Corp. Dean left Brantford with the 1st Contingent, in August 1914. At that time he was connected with the 4th Battalion, but owing to sickness was unable to accompany them to France. Later however, he got across to France and was transferred to the 2nd Battalion and with this Battalion saw much strenuous fighting.

After having been through all the big fights unscathed it remained for rheumatism and bronchitis to disable him. The dampness at Shorncliffe first, and laterally in the trenches, went to his system. For three or four days he was in General Hospital No. 24 at Etaples, France, and was then taken to England. The ride had to be made on a stretcher.

In England he was at Redlands, Reading. This scene has been described both by letter and photograph in The Expositor before, through Corp. Dean’s courtesy. He also spent some time in the various convalescent homes in England. Improving in health, he was put on duty at Shorncliffe, but not for long, having to be sent back to the doctor’s care again. Finally he was invalided home.

“I went over with the intention of doing my best,” said Corp. Dean, “but I was not the man I thought I was. The former hardships I went through in the South African campaign, coupled with the new ones all told on me.”

When he left Brantford he was a private, but after the battle of Festubert he received his first stripe. He also had the promise of his other two, but sickness prevented his receiving them.

In leaving to do his share, Corp. Dean made a sacrifice. Undoubtedly he did not consider self but felt the King and his country needed his service. In conversation last evening, he recalled his wife signing the slip to allow him to go.

“Yes, and she believed she was signing my death warrant. But thank God I have come back, although I thought many times that I would not come back,” he remarked thankfully.

Addresses of Welcome

At the market last evening Ald. Dowling, on behalf of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission of which he is chairman, and on behalf of the city in the absence of Mayor Bowlby, officially bade the heroes a hearty welcome back to the city, after which Joseph H. Ham, M.L.A. and Lieut.-Col. Harry Cockshutt gave brief but fitting addresses. Ald. Dowling explained a little of what the commission was for, and how glad it would be to do anything possible to assist, if necessary, these men who did all in their power for the cause. He felt that as they were among the first to leave, a little more honor was perhaps due them than to those who enlisted later.

Mr. Ham, after expressing the great pleasure he felt in extending a welcome to these noble boys, told of his trip with them from Toronto that evening, when he had had the pleasure of talking with them and hearing a little of their stories. When he announced the fact that both of these boys had been among the first to leave and that Corp. Dean had been through the South African war and had been about the fifth or sixth to enlist from Brantford when the call of the motherland first came, the crowd cheered vociferously. He, also as a member of the commission, expressed the pleasure it was for them to do anything possible for the returned soldiers, who had either contracted illness or been wounded while in performance of their duties.

“These men have done their bit, it is now up to us to do our part,” said Col. Cockshutt, the popular commander of the 215th who was, as usual given a great ovation on his rising to speak. It was now possible for the men from Brantford to stand together while fighting for the defence of the country and its flag. Now that the 125th were ready to go he hoped they would cover themselves with honor, and when they did so he felt sure that the people of Brantford would be glad to welcome them back once more, the same as was being done at that time. As a citizen of Brantford and a soldier Col. Cockshutt was glad to welcome them back. While they were coming home he and his men were getting ready to leave, but they had shown the true soldiers’ hearts.

After many more hearty cheers had been given the soldiers called for a speech from the heroes. Corp. Dean expressed himself as being too excited to speak; in fact he said he felt more like crying than making a speech. After expressing the thanks he felt for the reception accorded him he told the boys that there was plenty of room for them all in the war zone. Although he had not been as good a man as he thought he was when he left he had tried to do his bit, and as willing to do a bit more after they had done theirs. Pte. Herod also thanked the crowd who had turned out to honor him and stated that while he had never done a great deal he had at least done the best he could. He concurred with Corp. Dean in the statement that there was plenty of room for them all, and plenty for them to do.

BX August 16, 1915

Canadian Men in Redlands Hospital Are Well Treated – Corp. G.W. Dean, of This City, Suffering From Rheumatism, Says English Folk Treat Canadians With All Kindness – Hospital Was Formerly a School But Was Bought Over by the War Office

Corporal George William Dean, formerly of this city, one of the 2nd Battalion C.E.F. is a patient in Redlands War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, a sufferer from rheumatism and bronchitis, brought on by the weather conditions at Salisbury Plains during last winter. He is being well looked after and pays a tribute to the folk of the neighborhood for their kindness. He says in a letter to The Expositor:

June 30, 1915
Redlands War Hospital
Reading, Berkshire, Eng.

Dear Sir,

You will see that I am in a hospital, though I am glad to say that it’s not because I have been wounded. I consider myself very lucky, for out there it is more often a case of wound or death than a fortunate escape, as in my case. It is sad to tell you that we have lost some of the best from Brantford, and several of them have left wives and families behind them to suffer and bemoan their loss.

We that are left, therefore, feel it our one great duty to help those whom our brave comrades have left forever, and we must do all we can to ease them in their sufferings.

I myself have had an attack of rheumatism, and bronchitis, and for this reason I have been sent to England, where we have been getting a great deal of wet weather, which has not done me much good.

However, I am glad to say I am much better than I was, and hope soon to be quite all right again. Before I went to France I suffered from bronchitis, accounted for by having to spend the winter on Salisbury Plain, which we called England’s “mud-hole.” It was a terrible time, and I wonder there were not more men laid up, after what we went through. It was rough on the boys all round, and for those left in France it is more trying still, and we wish them a safe and happy return after a glorious victory. May they all reach their own homes and follow the big drum to even a great victory still – I mean to the meeting once more with their dear relations and friends.

I will give you a description of the hospital in which I am a patient. It is in a fine building, which used to be a school for boys and girls, and the war office has fitted it up with everything necessary for our wants. It is managed by a committee of gentleman who are the governors of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and they meet here once a week and see that all is going on well. The matron, secretary and nurses we have always with us, and I can tell you they all do everything in their power to make us comfortable and happy. We have the best of food and many luxuries in the way of fruit, flowers, tobacco, etc., which kind friends of the hospital send in every day as gifts for the patients. Everyone tries to do all they can to make up to us for the trials we have had to go through. They give us capital concerts every week, and there seems to be much talent among the people who come to see us. We also go out in motor cars for drives around the beautiful country, and are often entertained by the owners of the cars at their houses for the afternoon.

Adjoining the hospital is a convent school kept by some charming French ladies, and last week the Mother Superior invited us to a concert in the hall and gave us refreshments and entertained us most generously. The beautiful gardens of the place are open to our use all day, and in these we play all kinds of games and can get rest and exercise at the same time.

I am sure we wish all these kind people long lives and happiness and we shall never forget their goodness to us all. I think you will be interested to have some photos of some of us looking happy and gay, as our secretary tells us, when he took the picture. Hoping to return before long to those who are looking for us, I remain, dear Sir,

Yours obediently,

G.W. Dean, Corporal
2nd Batt. Canadian Contingent

BX June 29, 1943

George William Dean

The death occurred on Sunday of Pte. George William Dean, 4th Battalion and Haldimand Rifles, father of Mrs. E. Turner, City, in the Christie Street Hospital, Toronto, in his 70th years. He leaves to mourn his loss, besides his daughter, his widow, the former Rebecca Gunton, three other daughters, Mrs. E. Beaumont, Windsor, Mrs. A. Leman, Leaside and Elsie Dean, Toronto, and two sons, John, with the 48th Highlanders and George, with the Royal Canadian Engineers, both overseas. He is resting at the Wm. Sherrin Funeral Home, Toronto, where funeral service will take place Wednesday afternoon, and interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Norway.