 Bean noted that he was "a restless and adventurous spirit", "an impetuous, daredevil officer, but free of the carelessness with which those qualities are often associated", "a gay, wild young Englishman, clever soldier, and inevitably a leader wherever he was", and a "mercurial commander".He had many eccentric habits, and often embarrassed his officers through his actions.He would supervise battalion drill from horseback, armed with a megaphone, with which he would berate the officers incessantly, causing much confusion.