Campaign for Sheean’s sacrifice to be honoured fights another day

It’s inexplicable to many that a man who saved so many lives, by sacrificing his own in this manner, doesn’t receive our nation’s highest honour, writes Mercury editor Jenna Cairney.

THE support that Tasmanians and Australian politicians have thrown behind the push for war hero Ordinary Seaman Edward “Teddy” Sheean to posthumously receive Australia’s highest military honour is clearly making waves in Canberra.

Eighteen-year-old Sheean died in 1942, defending HMAS Armidale off the coast of East Timor.

The ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft. Only 46 of 149 men aboard survived.

Sheean strapped himself to an anti-aircraft gun and held off the enemy aircraft while his shipmates escaped, going down with the ship still firing.

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Last month, the Morrison Government rejected a unanimous 2019 recommendation by the independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal that ruled Sheean deserved the Victoria Cross.

It’s inexplicable to many that a man who saved so many lives, by sacrificing his own in this manner, doesn’t receive our nation’s highest honour.

The government says issuing a Victoria Cross retrospectively would occur only “in light of compelling new evidence or if there was evidence of significant maladministration” and argues the 2019 recommendation does not meet the requirements.

The government also points to a 2013 Valour Inquiry which doesn’t recommend the government award the VC.

Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell AO, DSC. Picture: ADF

The Mercury revealed that the Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell wrote to both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister of Defence Personnel Darren Chester to “strongly advise” them to not seek the honour for Sheean, warning it could open the floodgates to other claims and “upset” the Queen.

Defence never supports upgrades of awards, but it’s almost unprecedented for government to reject the findings of a tribunal like this.

Still supporters of the cause remain determined, and now Liberal MPs have broken ranks to implore the Prime Minister to reconsider his position.

Enraged by the government’s rejection of the findings, Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal chair Mark Sullivan broke his silence.

It was an unprecedented move, after which we called for the government’s decision to be reviewed.

Yesterday, Mr Morrison announced a new review that would focus on whether or not new evidence had been unearthed.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Given last month the government said the matter had been finalised, its willingness to now reconsider things will at least provide hope for the numerous people who have thrown their support behind the campaign.

Of course, many of our passionate letter writers will baulk at the idea of yet another panel.

And some of us will be sceptical, worried this is another way of stalling or stopping that young man’s sacrifice getting the honour so many of us think he deserves.

Of course, much will depend on the terms of reference of that review.

It’s a distinguished panel that includes former Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson, who will lead the panel, barrister David Bennett and Peter Shergold, who was once Australia’s top public servant.

Ultimately, it means the campaign for Sheean’s sacrifice to be recognised lives to fight another day.

It’s been ongoing for years, and the more the government resists, the more momentum it seems to gain.