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Leading Seaman Jack Mantle VC World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Leading Seaman Jack Mantle VC

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Possibly the most intense action that Portland Harbour saw during its years as a Royal Naval base occurred in the early days of World War 2 when HMS Foylebank was set upon and sunk by squadrons of German Stuka dive bombers. The Foylebank was a converted 5,500 ton merchant ship of the Bank Line. Launched in 1930 she was requisitioned in September 1939, shortly after war broke out, and converted into an anti-aircraft ship with 2 pounder pom-poms, .5 inch machine guns and four twin high angle 4 inch turrets. She arrived in Portland on the 9th June for work-up followed by anti-aircraft duties. On the 4th July, whilst the bulk of her crew were at breakfast, unidentified aircraft were reported to the south, but these were believed to be friendlies returning to base. They turned out to be 26 of the German's most feared aircraft, the JU87 Stuka dive bomber, intent on "getting" the Foylebank, a possible snag to their plans to destroy Britain's vital coastal shipping. The ship fought back and 2 possibly 3 stukas were shot down but 22 bombs found their mark and her guns were put out of action. Fires raged, electricity failed and the stricken ship listed to port, shrouded in smoke. She sank on the 5th July. [B]Leading Seaman Jack Mantle [/B] The action lasted a mere 8 minutes. During that time 176 of the 300 man crew were killed and only 40 survivors remained uninjured. One of those killed was Leading Seaman Jack Mantle who continued to serve his gun though many times wounded. Jack Mantle was awarded the Victoria Cross, the only VC ever to have been awarded for an action in the United Kingdom. Thomas Couzins and George Gould received the Distinguished Service Medal. Jack Mantle is buried in the Royal Naval Cemetery on Portland. extract from the site linked below:- [url]http://www.theheritagecoast.co.uk/historyfile/portland_and_weymouth/portlands_deep_sea_harbour/foylebank.htm[/url]

Hi Little h.Thanks once again.I must admit that (to my shame) I had never heard of this VC award.I knew of the Foyle Bank incident,and that she put up on heck of a fight.I had always thought she was civilian manned.Thank you for putting me right...Many Regards Steve.:o

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