Tasmanian WWII hero Teddy Sheean denied Victoria Cross
The family of WWII hero Teddy Sheean have promised to “fight on” after the Federal Government rejected a tribunal recommendation in favour of awarding him a Victoria Cross.
Tasmania
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PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has outraged advocates for Tasmanian war hero Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean to be awarded a Victoria Cross by rejecting the unanimous finding of an independent tribunal in favour of the posthumous honour.
Sheean died strapped to his gun after shooting down a Japanese aircraft while trying to save his shipmates as they escaped the sinking HMAS Armidale in 1942.
Born in Latrobe, he is one of Tasmania’s best-known wartime servicemen and was just 18-years-old when he died.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnet said he did not accept the Prime Minister’s decision after his 17-year involvement in the campaign to have Sheean’s World War II actions honoured.
A Tribunal inquiry was held in March last year after Mr Barnett applied to the Federal Government for a “merits-based review” after a previous application was rejected in 2013.
TALKING POINT: IF THIS ISN’T WORTH A VC, WHAT IS?
“The evidence presented was overwhelming and compelling in favour of a Victoria Cross,” Mr Barnett said.
“Based on that evidence, the Tribunal unanimously found that Sheean meets the eligibility criteria for the Victoria Cross for Australia.
“It is staggering that the Federal Government has not accepted the Tribunal’s recommendation that Sheean be posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross for his pre-eminent act of valour.”
Mr Barnett said the “incredibly disappointing” decision went “against all of the evidence”.
“I do not accept the Prime Minister’s decision and will ask the Federal Government to reconsider.”
The decision was revealed after crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie questioned Federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds CSC over delays in the process in Senate question time on Tuesday.
She labelled the decision a “slap in the face for Teddy and his family”.
“He gave his life to save his mates. What more could we be asking of him?” she said.
“The bureaucracy’s always been afraid of revisiting Sheean’s case, and that cowardice has just been extended.
“They’ve made a decision to deny him the honour he deserves because they’re afraid of the precedent it will set.
“There are four possible tests for whether someone should receive a VC, and you only need to reach one. Teddy’s an outstanding example of all of them.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said it was the Government’s policy was that consideration of the awarding of the VC would only occur in light of compelling new evidence or if there was evidence of manifest injustice.
The spokesman said there had been no compelling new evidence presented by the Tribunal to support a reconsideration of the 2013 decision.
“This in no way detracts from the service, dedication and sacrifice of Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean, for which our nation remains eternally grateful,” the spokesman said.
Sheean’s nephew Garry Ivory said he would ask Mr Morrison to reconsider.
“It passed all the merits and it’s gone back to the Government and they refused to act on it,” he said.
“I just feel that that’s an injustice again for Teddy. It’s bad news I know, but there’s still hope.
“We won’t give up. The motto for the HMAS Sheean is fight on and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
There are no further options to appeal the decision.
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