Minister Guy Barnett will appear before expert panel established to consider awarding Tasmanian Teddy Sheean the Victoria Cross

A Tasmanian Minister will fly out next month to convince an expert panel local war hero Teddy Sheean deserves the military’s top honour.

Dale Marsh's painting of Teddy Sheean, who lashed himself to his gun and fired until the HMAS Armadale sank. Picture: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

TASMANIAN Government Minister Guy Barnett will on July 6 appear before the expert panel established to determine whether war hero Teddy Sheean should be awarded a Victoria Cross.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison bowed to public pressure earlier this month, announcing a panel chaired by former Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson would advise his government if there was any significant new evidence compelling enough to support a recommendation that Sheean’s Mention in Dispatches be replaced by a Victoria Cross.

The 18-year-old Ordinary Seaman strapped himself to an anti-aircraft gun in 1942 as his vessel was sunk by Japanese bombers. He is credited with saving the lives of many of the crew. Mr Barnett said he was looking forward to trying to convince the panel Sheean was deserving of the honour.

Guy Barnett. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“We will not give up,” said Mr Barnett, who has been campaigning on the issue for 17 years. “I am totally convinced he deserves the honour and sure the panel can be convinced of the same.”