Media: BOOK - paperback, 312 pages
Author: M. Bomford
Year: 2012
ISBN: 9781921941948
Other: b&w photos, maps, index
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing

‘No-one will ever know what made him do it.

In 1942, 18-year-old Edward 'Teddy' Sheean was one of the youngest and most inexperienced sailors on board the corvette HMAS Armidale. Whilst on operation in the Timor Sea this warship came under heavy attack by Japanese aircraft. Armidale began sinking while swarmed by Japanese aircraft, strafing and bombing the stricken vessel and the crew who were desperately trying to Abandon Ship. The wounded Ordinary Seaman turned back to his gun, an Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft cannon and strapped himself into the harness. He began firing at the attacking Japanese aircraft, a courageous young man, determined to do his best to save his mates. This selfless act of valour helped save the lives of 49 crew, before Teddy himself went down with the Armidale.

No member of the Royal Australian Navy has ever been awarded a Victoria Cross. Teddy's family and many others took up his case and fought for his recognition. It took more than 70 years for Teddy to becomes the first in Australia’s Naval history to receive this highest award – confirming Teddy Sheean is an Australian hero.

Sheean is the 101st VC awarded to an Australian.

Contents:
Explanatory Notes
Foreword
1. A Brave and Determined Hero
2. Teddy Sheean's Naval World
3. A Fighting Family
4. Induction and Training
5. The Development of Warships and Guns at Sea
6. The Corvettes
7. To Darwin Employed
8. The Final Flight of 1 December 1942
9. A Tragic Finale
10. Of Decorations Denied, and Survivors Massacred?
11. Of Victoria Crosses and Inconsistency
12. Incompetence or Malevolence
13. The Long Flight to a VC
Afterwoed
Appendix 1a: List of Royal Australian Navy personnel lost on board 'Armidale', or in the survival, search, and rescue, operations following
Appendix 1b: List of 61 Dutch Netherlands East Indies troops lost on board 'Armidale', or in the survival, search and rescue operations following 
Appendix 2: Policy regarding the Award of the Victoria Cross
Endnotes
Bibliography
Acknowledgements