Edwin Theyer Dean

Edwin Theyer Dean was born in Adelaide in 1884 and educated at St Peter’s College and The University of Adelaide. He served with distinction – including the award of a Legion d’Honneur (Chevalier) – on the Western Front in the First World War. When the Second World War broke out, he was a grazier on Karinya Station outside Angaston. In August 1940 he was posted to command No 9 Internment Camp at Loveday; later he became Group Commandant at Loveday. He retained command of Loveday until the beginning of September 1946.

Dean prided himself in running not only a secure camp complex but a productive one which would contribute to the overall war effort. Civilian internees could not be required to work, but many chose to take up that possibility, whether because it came with a small amount of remuneration, or because it helped to relieve the boredom of prolonged detention and enabled the acquisition of useful skills. In any case, under Dean’s leadership Loveday became not just self-sufficient but a net contributor to Australia’s war economy. The official history of the Loveday Camp, for which Dean himself wrote a Foreword, promotes the image of a model camp, largely on the basis of its economic achievements.

Dean was awarded a Member of the British Empire for his services; he died in 1970.

Sources:

NAA: B884, S812, DEAN EDWIN THEYER: Service Number - S812 : Date of birth - 11 Dec 1884 : Place of birth - ADELAIDE SA : Place of enlistment - KESWICK SA : Next of Kin - DEAN GLADYS

Internment in South Australia: history of Loveday, Loveday internment group, Barmera, 1940-1946. Prepared by a committee of officers and O.R.'s appointed with the approval of Brig. H.C. Bundock, the then Commander 4th. M.D, Adelaide: Advertiser Printing Office, 1946