Valour the key to Victoria Cross

I WISH to express extreme disappointment at the refusal of the Prime Minister to accept the recommendation of the committee to award a Victoria Cross to the O/ Seaman Teddy Sheean. I served in the RAN during the second world war from 1943 to 1946. The feeling in the RAN was that a Victoria Cross should be awarded to Teddy Sheean for the action he took to protect his shipmates in the water whilst his ship was sinking following sustained air attacks by the Japanese. Sheean did not abandon ship when ordered but instead remained at his gun firing at the enemy until Armidale disappeared below the waves. I believe the actions of Teddy Sheean satisfy the requirements of the Victoria Cross, particularly the words “for valour”. Athol Eiszele

Howrah