Teddy Sheean Victoria Cross to become election issue – “Fight on”

The campaign to have a Latrobe war hero’s bravery recognised with a Victoria Cross is set to become an election issue.

“We want the next government to reconsider our claims when in office after September 2013, said Mr Garry Ivory and Mr Guy Barnett today.

“The Teddy Sheean for a Victoria Cross campaign will now become an election issue with petitions being collected up until 14 September 2013. We are asking the public to sign the petition right up to election day. We will not give up, we will fight on.

“We have collected over 3000 thousand petitions already but we want more to send a message to the new government after September – whichever party is in office.

“Teddy Sheean served on the HMAS Armidale and, when attacked on 1 December 1942 and ordered to abandon ship, he returned to his anti-aircraft gun and fired at enemy aircraft to protect his mates being strafed in the water. Teddy Sheean did this in total disregard for his own safety and life, and was seen continuing to fire as the ship went down.

“A recent Defence Tribunal Report decided that Teddy Sheean’s bravery was not worthy of a Victoria Cross. We at the Teddy Sheean VC Award Fight team believe this is a grave injustice. Bravery such as that shown by Sheean should be appropriately honoured.

“Our petition asks the Tribunal findings be set aside and Sheean’s bravery re-considered for a VC,” they concluded.

People wishing to sign the petition can find it at www.change.org/petitions, via the Teddy Sheean VC Award Fight Facebook page or by contacting us directly at Teddy Sheean VC Award Fight, 3/34 Blamey Road, Punchbowl TAS 7249 (Garry Ivory) or PO Box 1846, Launceston TAS 7250 (Guy Barnett).

Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean- a selfless act

Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean was born in Lower Barrington, Tasmania on 28 December 1923. His family soon moved to Latrobe and he was educated at the local Catholic school and worked as a farm labourer until he enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve at 17 years. In June 1942 he was posted to the HMAS Armidale as an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun loader.

The Japanese were moving south ferocious and fast and on 1 December 1942 the Armidale, then in the Timor sea just north of Australia, came under repeated attack by at least 13 Japanese aircraft. By 3.15pm the Armidale had been struck by two aerial torpedoes and began to sink, an event that would take less than 5 minutes. Lieutenant Commander David Richards ordered the ship to be abandoned. Out of the 149 on board, only 49 would be rescued from the water.

As the ship was sinking, and the survivors in the water tried to board life-rafts, the Japanese aircraft continued to strafe the men in the water. Ordinary Seaman Sheean possibly already wounded, and seeing his mates in distress and being shot at, returned to his Oerlikon gun, strapped himself in, and began firing at the Japanese aircraft and attracting enemy fire. He reportedly shot down at least one Japanese Zero in his efforts. Witnesses report that tracer fire could still be seen leaving the gun after she sunk below the waves. Sheean would have known his fate when he returned to his gun but in an act of conspicuous bravery offered up his life for his mates and his country. He was not yet 19 years. (There is a well-known painting at the Australian War Memorial which commemorates this incident and a submarine named in his honour.)

Download petition:

Teddy_Sheean_Petition_2013.pdf
Guy Barnett