UNCLASSIFIED - FROM CN
SUBJ: VALE LCDR MAX SHEAN DSO AND BAR RANR RTD
1. IT IS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SADNESS THAT I ADVISE NAVY OF THE
RECENT PASSING OF LCDR MAX SHEAN DSO AND BAR RAN RTD IN WESTERN
AUSTRALIA. LCDR SHEAN WAS A REMARKABLE NAVY VETERAN AND QUOTE AN
AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINE HERO UNQUOTE WHO SERVED OUR NATION WITH
DISTINCTION DURING WWII AND REMAINED PART OF THE SUBMARINE COMMUNITY
AND NAVY FAMILY UNTIL THE END.
2. LCDR SHEAN'S LIFE WAS CHARACTERISED BY BOTH GREAT DISTINCTION IN
HIS SERVICE AND GREAT HUMILITY. IN1940, AT THE AGE OF 22, HE JOINED
THE RANVR, SERVING 15 MONTHS IN HMS BLUEBELL ON THE GIBRALTA-UK
CONVOY RUN, BEFORE VOLUNTEERING FOR QUOTE SPECIAL UNSPECIFIED DUTIES
UNQUOTE. THIS WAS MIDGET SUBMARINE SERVICE. LCDR SHEAN WAS FIRST
ASSIGNED AS DIVER TO X9 FOR A COVERT RAID ON THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP
TIRPITZ, BUT HIS CRAFT WAS LOST UNDER TOW TO THE AREA OF OPERATIONS.
HE WAS PRESENTED WITH HIS FIRST DSO FOLLOWING A SORTIE TO BERGIN
HARBOUR, NORWAY, AS CO X24 AND THE BAR TO THE DSO WHEN HE CUT THE
UNDERSEA COMMUNICATIONS CABLE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE OFF THE
MEKONG DELTA AS CO XE4 IN 1944. FOR HIS PACIFIC EXPLOITS, HE ALSO
RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR FROM THE UNITED STATES.
3. LCDR SHEAN CONTINUED TO SERVE AUSTRALIA IN THE NAVAL RESERVE UNTIL
1956 AS AN ENGINEER AND SEAMAN OFFICER, AND WORKED FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA THROUGH THE WA STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION UNTIL
1978. AS AN OFFSHORE SAILOR HE WON THE PARMELIA YACHT RACE FROM THE
UK TO FREMANTLE SOLO IN 1979, SHOWING THE SAME DARING AND COURAGE
THAT CHARACTERISED HIS WAR SERVICE.
4. A REGULAR GUEST OF HONOUR AT HMAS STIRLING, LCDR SHEAN CONTINUED
TO SUPPORT LEGACY AND THE SUBMARINE COMMUNITY UNTIL HE WAS
HOSPITALISED ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO. LCDR MAX SHEAN WAS THE
QUINTESSENTIAL NAVAL OFFICER- DETERMINED, FOCUSSED, COURAGEOUS AND
DEDICATED. HE HAD A METICULOUS MIND AND PLANNED IN DETAIL BEFORE
ACTING DECISIVELY, ACHIEVING EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS IN ALMOST
EVERYTHING HE DID. BUT THOSE THINGS WERE NEVER FOR HIMSELF PERSONALLY
, THEY WERE FOR HIS COUNTRY, HIS NAVY AND HIS FAMILY.
5. A REMARKABLE MAN WHO WAS PROUD TO BE A NAVY MAN AND WE ARE PROUD
TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HIM. LCDR MAX SHEAN WILL BE REMEMBERED.
6. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE ADVISED SEPARATELY.
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