Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program

The Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program honours the sacrifice made by Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean, as a representative of the many Tasmanians who gave their lives selflessly for others in the defence of our country during World War Two.

Teddy was born 1923 in Lower Barrington, Tasmania. He was one of 16 children, and his parents were James and Mary Sheean. The family moved to Latrobe in northern Tasmania when he was young. He and his siblings were educated at the local Catholic primary school.

Teddy joined the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) in Hobart on 21 April 1941 when he was 17. He was one of 5 Sheean children who joined the armed forces.

In June 1942 Teddy began his service as an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gunner on the newly commissioned corvette, HMAS Armidale. On 1 December 1942, Armidale was hit by two aircraft-launched torpedoes and began to sink. Sheean was wounded but rather than abandon ship, he strapped himself to his Oerlikon and began to engage the attacking aircraft as the ship sunk beneath him. He shot down two planes and crewmates recall seeing tracer rising from beneath the surface as Sheean was dragged under the water, firing until the end. He died aged 18 years. Only 49 of the 149 men on board survived the attack and subsequent ordeal on rafts and in life boats.

In 2020, almost 80 years after his death, the 18-year-old Tasmanian seaman was recognised for his efforts to save his crewmates aboard HMAS Armidale, receiving the Victoria Cross.

More information is available at the Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants page.