Jack Foreman Mantle

Kept firing his gun despite mortal wounds during an air raid

Jack Foreman Mantle was an acting leading seaman in the Royal Navy, serving aboard HMS Foylebank at Portland Harbour. On 4 July 1940, German aircraft attacked the anti-aircraft ship while he manned its starboard pom-pom gun.

A bomb shattered his left leg, but he stayed at the gun. With the ship's electrical power lost, he continued firing by hand. Further wounds proved fatal, yet he remained at his post through the fighting. His conduct earned a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Born on 12 April 1917, Mantle had joined the Navy as a teenager. An earlier action brought a mention in despatches. He died aged twenty-three and is buried in Portland Royal Naval Cemetery. His Victoria Cross and campaign medals were later loaned by his family to the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth.

Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 3 September 1940:

Leading Seaman Jack Mantle was in charge of the Starboard pom-pom when FOYLEBANK was attacked by enemy aircraft on the 4th of July, 1940. Early in the action his left leg was shattered by a bomb, but he stood fast at his gun and went on firing with hand-gear only; for the ship's electric power had failed. Almost at once he was wounded again in many places. Between his bursts of fire he had time to reflect on the grievous injuries of which he was soon to die; but his great courage bore him up till the end of the fight, when he fell by the gun he had so valiantly served.