I use to live in the suburb of Jacka - named after Albert Jacka VC. A previous Geocache of mine commemorated Albert Jacka VC. This one commemorates another Australian VC recipient – Edward "Teddy" Sheean VC.
Edward "Teddy" Sheean VC (28 December 1923 – 01 December 1942) was a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during the Second World War. Born in Tasmania, Sheean - a farm labourer - enlisted in the RAN Reserve in April 1941. Following training at HMAS Derwent and HMAS Flinders, he was posted to Sydney, where he joined the newly commissioned corvette HMAS Armidale in June 1942. Sheean served aboard Armidale as she took part in escort duties along the eastern Australian coast and in New Guinea waters. In October he transferred with the ship to Darwin, where Armidale was tasked with assisting Australian operations in Timor.
On 29 November 1942, Armidale set out for an operation to Betano, Timor, along with HMAS Castlemaine. The two ships were attacked by Japanese aircraft along the way, and were subsequently late in arriving at their destination, missing a planned rendezvous with HMAS Kuru. While returning to Darwin, the pair encountered Kuru south of Betano and it was decided by Castlemaine's commanding officer—as the senior officer—that Armidale and Kuru should make for Betano. The two ships took different routes to Betano, during which both vessels came under aerial assault. During a subsequent confrontation with thirteen Japanese aircraft on 1 December, Armidale was struck by two torpedoes and a bomb, and began to sink; the order to abandon ship was given. After helping to free a life-raft, Sheean was wounded by two bullets. He made his way to the aft Oerlikon 20mm cannon and began to fire on the Japanese aircraft to protect those in the water. Sheean managed to shoot down one of the Japanese bombers, but was killed when Armidale sank. Many of the survivors credited their lives to Sheean, stating that he was still firing the cannon as the ship sank beneath the water, with cannon shells even coming up out of the water for a few moments. He was posthumously mentioned in despatches, this award was later superceeded on 1 December 2020 when upgraded to the Victoria Cross for Australia.
After many years of neglect, consideration was given to awarding Sheean the Victoria Cross for Australia (VC) and, in 1999, the RAN submarine HMAS Sheean was named in his honour. An inquiry in 2013 recommended that he not be awarded the VC. A 2019 inquiry recommended in favour of the award, but was rejected by the Government. Another inquiry held during 2020 recommended that Sheean be awarded the VC, and this was accepted by the Government. Queen Elizabeth II approved the award on 12 August 2020.
Edward "Teddy" Sheean is the only member of the RAN to ever be awarded the Victoria Cross.