Sheean inspires folk musician Greg Wells to pen songs in honour of his bravery
STORYTELLERS: Greg Wells and the Blackwater Band, a Hobart five-piece, have written songs about the courage of war hero Teddy Sheean.
The story of late war hero Teddy Sheean has touched the hearts of many Tasmanians - and even inspired songs honouring his legendary courage.
Greg Wells, 60, of Hobart, plays in a five-piece folk and roots band. They call themselves Greg Wells and the Blackwater Band.
Mr Wells was so struck by Sheean's bravery when he first heard his story that he wrote a song about him, simply called Teddy Sheean.
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What most resonated with Mr Wells about Sheean, who died defending his shipmates in the Arafura Sea in 1942, was his "courage and sacrifice".
"You can't ask any more of a bloke that when he sees his mates getting shot, he goes and straps himself to a gun, wounded, and tries to save their lives," he said.
"I just think it's one of the most incredible stories of bravery."
When Sheean was rejected for a posthumous Victoria Cross in 2013, Mr Wells picked up his guitar and wrote another song, this one titled Fight On.
Mr Wells said he may add a verse to the song if the Sheean VC campaign is ultimately successful.
The federal government this year quashed the hope that Sheean would finally be recognised with the nation's highest military honour, despite a defence honours tribunal recommending otherwise.
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