Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean VC

Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean was born on 28 December 1923 at Lower Barrington, Tasmania.

Ordinary Seaman'Teddy' Sheean’s vessel the HMAS Armidale was hit by two Japanese torpedoes and a bomb and began to sink. As the order to abandon ship was given, he helped free a life raft and was wounded.  He went to a 20 mm cannon and began to fire on the Japanese aircraft to protect those in the water.  He shot down one of the Japanese bombers but was killed when the HMAS Armidale sank. Many of the survivors from the sinking credited their lives to him. He is the first member of the Royal Australian Navy to be awarded Australia’s highest honour for valour.

After a sustained public campaign by Teddy Sheean’s family and supporters, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in August 2020.