Wallet 1 of 1 - Letter from Edward (Teddy) Sheean to his mother, c. June - December 1941 Accession Number: AWM2020.22.231

Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of H1617 Ordinary Seaman Edward (Teddy) Sheean, Royal Australian Navy, Hobart, c. June - December 1941.

Wallet 1 of 1 - Collection contains one undated letter from Sheean to his mother, the contents of which suggest was written whilst he was posted to HMAS Derwent in Hobart for initial training in 1941. In the letter Sheean speculates on the date of his embarkation to mainland Australia or service overseas, and reassures his mother that he and his brothers will safely return from service. He goes on to enquire about the well-being of family members and notes he is unlikely to visit his hometown of Latrobe to see brother Thomas (Mick) Sheean before the latter embarks for service.

The collection also includes a label attached to the back of the frame in which the abovementioned letter was housed. The label states "This letter has been kept lovingly by Teddy's sister Ivy Hayes, who passed away 2nd September 2004, aged 95. It was her wish that it be given to the HMAS Sheean for safe keeping."

Contextual Description

Edward "Teddy" Sheean aged 18 years was killed on 1 December 1942 when the ship with which he was serving, the Bathurst Class corvette HMAS Armidale, was two hit by two Japanese aircraft-launched torpedoes and sunk in the Arafura Sea. As the crew were abandoning ship the Japanese aircraft began machine gunning survivors in the water. When Sheean saw this, though himself wounded, he manned the aft 20 mm Oerlikon gun and began shooting at the attacking aircraft, shooting one down and damaging two others. Sheean remained at the gun and continued to engage the enemy aircraft as the ship sank. Only 49 of the 149 men on board survived the attack and subsequent ordeal on rafts and in life boats. For his part in this action Sheean was posthumously awarded a Mention In Despatches. In 2020 this award was upgraded to the Victoria Cross for Australia.

This letter is believed to be the last letter written by Sheean.

The Collins Class submarine HMAS Sheean is the only vessel in the Royal Australian Navy to bear the name of an ordinary sailor. This letter was given to the Commanding Officer of HMAS Sheean who passed the original letter to the Memorial in 2007. The original letter is now stored in the document preservation environment of the Memorial’s Research Centre archive and a copy of the letter now hangs in the main passageway of HMAS Sheean.