His
ship, H.M.A.S. "Armidale", a Royal Australian Navy Corvette,
survived two days bombing by the Japanese Air Force, but on
the third day, 1st December 1942, she became the victim of a
Japanese aerial torpedo and sank in the Arafura Sea, about ninety
miles off the Timorese Coast.
When
the second torpedo struck, the ship began to sink and listed
to Port. Captain Richards, recognising the critical situation,
gave the order to "abandon ship".
The
Japanese Air Force gunners continued their strafing and more
of the crew were killed or wounded as they took to the water.
Teddy Sheean was one of the wounded. He went to the Port side
of the ship as if to go overboard, but instead, turned and dragged
himself to the abaft Oerlikon Gun, which had been his action
station. No doubt, he’d seen his mates in the water, being strafed
by the enemy aircraft and wanted his revenge - he wouldn’t be
kicked while he was down.
Teddy
strapped himself to the gun and immediately opened fire on the
aircraft which were continuing the onslaught. At this time,
the ship was going down by the head and with heroic determination,
he continued his attack, until the "Armidale", taking a second
torpedo slipped quietly under the water, taking the gallant
gunner with her.
As
the Arafura Sea closed over the stern, the gun was still firing.
Teddy Sheean had given his life for his country and his mates
in true Australian tradition.
During
the short action, which lasted possibly three minutes, Sheean
shot down one bomber observers credit him with damaging two
others. For his incredible and unselfish action, he was posthumously
"Mentioned In Despatches"! The action had passed almost unnoticed.
In later years, an endeavour was made to have this award replaced
with a "Victoria Cross granted posthumously, but to no avail.
Those
of us who survived, well remember Teddy’s action, for, who knows,
we too may have perished at the hands of the Japanese gunners
except for his bravery.
At
the time, the "Armadale" was on a mission to take Australian
troops off Betano, Timor. When she sank, half of the compliment
was lost, as were sixty Japanese soldiers who were to have been
put ashore on Timor. Great courage and endurance on the part
of those involved, reflected credit on the Royal Australian
Navy.
Many
members of the Royal Australian Navy Corvettes Association,
from all parts of Australia, gathered at "Shropshire Park",
Ulverstone Tasmania, to participate in the unveiling and dedication
of the "Teddy Sheean Memorial" - a fitting tribute to a gallant
shipmate. This took place on 1st October 1987.
There
will be six new submarines commissioned by the Royal Australian
Navy during the 1990’s. Three Tassie heroes will be honoured
when three of the subs will be named after them.
The
first was named HMAS Collins. Vice Admiral Collins was born
in Deloraine 1899, and became the first Australian to become
Admiral and the first Australian born to become Chief of Staff.
HMAS
Dechaineux will be named after Captain Dechaineux who was commanding
officer HMAS "Australia" and died in action in the Philippines.
HMAS
Sheean will be named after Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean of
HMAS "Armidale". Teddy was born at Barrington, Tasmania, and
later moved to Latrobe.
This
is a great honour bestowed upon Sheean by the RAN and will be
the first naval ship to be named after a member of the 'Lower
Deck'..
A
ship mate, Ordinary Seaman R.M. Caro, described Sheean's actions:
"During
the attack a plane had been shot down and for this the credit
went to Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean. Teddy died but none of
us who survived, I am sure, will ever forget the gallant deed
that won him a Mention-In-Dispatches. he was a loader number
on the after oerlikon gun. When the order 'abandon ship' was
given, he made for the side, only to be hit twice by the bullets
of an attacking zero (survivors at this stage were being strafed
in the water by the Japs) None of us will ever know what made
him do it, but he went back to his gun, strapped himself in,
and brought down a Jap plane, still firing as he disappeared
beneath the waves."
Eye witness accounts state that tracer rounds could still clearly
be seen firing skywards after the ship had completely disappeared
beneath the waves.
