Tributes flow for Dr Victor ‘Ray’ Leonard who fought alongside war hero Teddy Sheean

A veteran who fought alongside Tasmanian war hero Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean is being remembered as a ‘legend’ following his death on Sunday. TRIBUTES >>

• Residents’ fire, storm fears over street limits
• Police apologise for protester’s jail time

The last survivor of the HMAS Armidale who fought alongside Tasmanian war hero Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean has been remembered as a legend after he died on Sunday.

Dr Victor ‘Ray’ Leonard passed away aged 97, just over a week before his 98th birthday.

Nephew of Teddy Sheean, Garry Ivory said he met Mr Leonard in Western Australia at the commissioning of HMAS Sheean and they stayed in contact.

“He was a legend, he had a good sense of humour and I was just in awe of him” Mr Ivory said.

“It wasn’t always about Teddy, we formed a friendship over the years.

“I think he was always of the thought he would make the 100 but it didn’t happen, he’d been in hospital for a few weeks.”

96 yo Dr Ray Leonard, last survivor from the HMAS Armidale, calling for Teddy Sheean to be awarded a Victoria Cross. Picture by Wayne Taylor 18th June 2020.

Mr Leonard was one of 49 survivors on board the HMAS Armidale in 1942 after Teddy Sheean strapped himself to a gun and shot down enemy aircraft to save his crewmates.

Mr Leonard went on to become a doctor and Mr Ivory said the survivor made many submissions for Teddy Sheean to posthumously receive a Victoria Cross – a wish that was finally granted last year.

“Sadly it’s the end of that era, a big part of history now passed away,” Mr Ivory said.

“I will say the legend of the HMAS Armidale will live on through Ray’s memory and the memory of other survivors.”

An undated portrait of Victor 'Ray' Leonard, who served on the HMAS Armidale.

“I’ll certainly miss him, it’s going to be hard to realise I can’t call him anymore. “

Mr Ivory said he had hoped to meet with Mr Leonard in recent weeks but was unable to.

“I was going to catch up with ray about three or four weeks ago and of course Covid came back to Melbourne and it all got cancelled,” he said.

“I sent some of the Anzac biscuits with the Teddy Sheehan tin that came out for Teddy, and a copy of Guy’s VC book with Teddy and a few other things,” Mr Ivory said.

“I don’t think he ever got to open it, his wife said it was still there on his bed when I last called.”

Mr Leonard had just celebrated his 77th wedding anniversary with his wife Beryl.

“The special love they had, when you talked to them, the love just came out, it was a very special relationship,” Mr Ivory said.

Originally published as Tributes flow for Dr Victor ‘Ray’ Leonard who fought alongside war hero Teddy Sheean