12 Facts About Teddy Sheean

Teddy Sheean served aboard Armidale as she took part in escort duties along the eastern Australian coast and in New Guinea waters.

Teddy Sheean managed to shoot down one of the Japanese bombers, but was killed when Armidale sank.

Teddy Sheean was born in Lower Barrington, Tasmania, on 28 December 1923, the youngest of fourteen children to James Teddy Sheean, a labourer, and his wife Mary Jane.

On 21 April 1941, Teddy Sheean enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

On finishing his initial training course, Teddy Sheean was attached to the Flinders Naval Depot in Western Port, Victoria, for further instruction from 11 February 1942.

Teddy Sheean damaged a further two aircraft before Armidales stern was engulfed by the sea.

Teddy Sheean was among 100 of the original 149 people on board HMAS Armidale at the time of the attack who were killed during the ship's sinking and its aftermath.

Teddy Sheean was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on 23 February 2001, and was the first Royal Australian Navy vessel to be named in honour of a naval rating.

The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal panel conducted an inquiry during 2019 to consider whether Teddy Sheean should be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Federal Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese wrote that Teddy Sheean should be awarded the Victoria Cross.

In June 2020, Morrison commissioned another expert panel to examine whether Teddy Sheean should be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Teddy Sheean's medal was the first VC awarded to a Royal Australian Navy crew member.