Former defence minister Brendan Nelson says Edward Sheean’s heroism deserves greater recognition than the honourable mention given to him in 1942.
Mr Sheehan was officially recognised with a Mentioned in Dispatches in 1942.
Dr Nelson told Sky News the recognition was rare and significant , however it was given based on a “incomplete and technically wrong” report which failed to list the extent of Mr Sheean’s heroism.
Recent investigation into Edward Sheean’s heroism by Dr Nelson and his panel caused them to recommend Mr Sheean be awarded the Victoria Cross Award.
Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean was working on the HMAS Armidale on December 14th 1942 as an ordinary seaman when the ship came under heavy Japanese fire.
Mr Sheean was commanded to abandon ship but instead of escaping, climbed to the top of the sinking ship, strapped himself to the gun, and began firing at the Japanese aircrafts shooting his fellow ship mates in the water.
He saved the lives of many shipmates, damaged two Japanese aircrafts and died either by a gun shot or drowned with the sinking ship.
Dr Nelson said seaman Edward Sheean was an ‘”extraordinary” man who “had the opportunity to save his life … but seeing his mates being strafed in the water, he made the decision to go back to the gun and certainly to his death.”
