Currents
Belated recognition for heroism Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean VC
Studio portrait of Teddy Sheean, 1941. Image Australian War Memorial 044154
He shot down one bomber, kept other Japanese aircraft away from men in the water and was seen to be still firing as Armidale finally sank.
AFTER A LONG BATTLE FOR recognition, the heroism of Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean and his actions aboard HMAS Armidale on 1 December 1942 have finally been acknowledged with the posthumous award of a Victoria Cross. Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean VC becomes the first member of the Royal Australian Navy to be awarded the armed forces’ highest honour. During its final battle, HMAS Armidale was attacked by at least a dozen Japanese aircraft. Two torpedoes hit the corvette, then a bomb struck aft. Survivors leapt into the sea and were strafed by machine guns. Eighteen-year-old Sheean ignored the order to abandon the listing ship, strapped himself to a gun and went down with Armidale in battle. 72
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Sheean was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery and in 1999 a Collins Class submarine was named after him – the only ship in the Royal Australian Navy to bear the name of an ordinary seaman. After years of trying to have Sheean’s deeds recognised by a military award, his nephew Gary Ivory stated: I have been fighting for 32 years, we have had the ups and downs, but we have never given up. It matters, because of the injustice in the beginning. Because ... nothing was done right from day one with it. A recent Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal report unanimously recommended the commendation, which had previously been rejected by the Federal Government. The report found that there had been ‘maladministration’ in the original decisions not to award the military honour. In overturning the Government’s decision, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said:
Eighteen-year-old Sheean ignored the order to abandon the listing ship, strapped himself to a gun and went down with Armidale in battle
He was done a substantial injustice in the original decision-making period in 1942 to 1943 and his courageous sacrifice of his life to save his shipmates makes him eligible for the Victoria Cross. In his investiture address, 78 years to the day of Armidale’s sinking, Mr Morrison said: Today, almost eight decades on from Teddy’s brave actions, we know his story grows with the ages. He now takes his place as one of the guiding lights of the country he indeed served to save. His life brings to mind the words of the British officer and poet Thomas Mordaunt – ‘One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name’. The name, the example, the glorious life of Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean VC will always be remembered. For a full biography please go to navy.gov.au/biography/ordinaryseaman-edward-teddy-sheean-vc
