Teddy Sheean's Victoria Cross is on its way to home soil.
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The medal was collected by Australia's Chief of Navy Mike Noonan at a ceremony in England on Friday.
The ceremony was held onboard the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth II, the newest and largest vessel in the British naval fleet.
In other news:
Born in Latrobe, Ordinary Seaman Sheean was 18 when he died on the HMAS Armidale after he refused orders to board a lifeboat while the ship sank.
Instead, he dashed to an Oerlikon gun to fire at enemy aircraft to protect his fellow crew members and went down with the ship.
There was evidence two Japanese aircraft were damaged through his actions.
Veterans Affairs Minister Guy Barnett said he was pleased another milestone has been reached to bring the Victoria Cross home.
"Sheean's Victoria Cross is extremely significant as the first Victoria Cross for the Royal Australian Navy," he said.
"The Victoria Cross is the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime in the British and Commonwealth armed forces.
"Since being instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, the medal has been awarded to 101 Australians, including 15 Tasmanians."
The medal, suspension bar and link are cast in bronze, were believed to be obtained from part of two Chinese cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War.
The campaign to see Ordinary Seaman Sheean awarded a VC was started more than three decades ago by his family, led by his nephew Garry Ivory.
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Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
