TEDDY’S TIME
After 78 years, war hero gets his medal
FINALLY, all those years since Teddy Sheean sacrificed his life to save his crew mates, the Tassie sailor is being honoured for his bravery.
Sheean, right, will today be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions aboard HMAS Armidale during World War II. His nephew Garry Ivory said he was sure his uncle would be “very proud” to be awarded the posthumous medal.
WAR hero Teddy Sheean will be awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery in World War II at an official investiture ceremony in Canberra today.
It will be 78 years to the day since the 18- year- old Tasmanian strapped himself to a gun aboard the HMAS Armidale to shoot down enemy planes, sacrificing his life to save his mates.
Sheean’s nephew Garry Ivory was “on top of the world” as he arrived in Canberra on Monday.
After more than 30 years of tireless campaigning for his uncle to be awarded the Victoria Cross, Mr Ivory said: “It will be one of those days I’ll never forget.”
Mr Ivory said his uncle would be “very proud” to be awarded the VC.
“He’d probably wonder what all the fuss was about but I’m sure he would be very proud if he’s up there looking down,” he said.
Queen Elizabeth approved the posthumous VC for Sheean in August after the Australian Government officially requested the honour following a review of his act of bravery, which found new evidence.
He will be the 101st Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross since 1900 and the 15th Tasmanian.
“Though Teddy Sheean’s bravery and name has always been known, we all know this honour did not come easy,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told The Mercury.
“It is to the credit of his family and supporters that they lived out the motto of HMAS Sheean: Fight on!”
Mr Morrison said Sheean would “take his place as one of the guiding lights of the country he served”.
Governor- General David Hurley said the ceremony would be a celebration of Sheean and his “selfless act of gallantry”, which embodied the spirit of the Anzacs. “It is an inspiring story and one that resonates to this day,” he said.
State Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett said Sheean was “a true Tasmanian hero”. After campaigning with Sheean’s family for more than 17 years, Mr Barnett was “overjoyed” to attend the ceremony.