Jack Foreman Mantle
Leading Seaman, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 835 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Leading Seaman (register: Acting Leading Seaman) all Leading Seamans →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Foylebank) all HMS Foylebank VCs →
- Date of action
- 4 July 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 3rd September, 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Born
- 12th April 1917 at Wandsworth, London
- Died
- 4th July 1940, during an air-raid on Portland, Dorset
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Portman Royal Naval Cemetery, Dorset and on a plaque to HMS Foylebank in St Paul's Church, HMS Osprey, Portland, Dorset
Digest of citation
During an air-raid on Portland, England, on 4th July 1940. Leading Seaman Mantle who was manning the starboard pom-pom gun of HMS Foylebank. Early in the action his left leg had been shattered by a bomb. Despite the fact that he'd been wounded again many times, he remained at the gun. When the ship's power failed, he trained and fired the gun, by handgear only, until he fell by his gun and died
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MANTLE, Jack Foreman. (reg No. 835).
Leading Seaman. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 3rd September, 1940.
Born on 12th April 1917 at Wandsworth, London.
Killed on 4th July 1940, during an air-raid on Portland, Dorset Memorials on grave at Portman Royal Naval Cemetery, Dorset and on a plaque to HMS Foylebank in St Paul's Church, HMS Osprey, Portland, Dorset.
Digest of Citation reads: During an air-raid on Portland, England, on 4th July 1940. Leading Seaman Mantle who was manning the starboard pom-pom gun of HMS Foylebank. Early in the action his left leg had been shattered by a bomb. Despite the fact that he'd been wounded again many times, he remained at the gun. When the ship's power failed, he trained and fired the gun, by handgear only, until he fell by his gun and died.
Additional information:. Leading Seaman Mantle was the only person in the Royal Navy to receive the Victoria Cross for a courageous deed on the English mainland. He joined the Navy at the age of 16. He had already seen action on convoy protection duty, and was one of the few Naval Gunners to have shot down a German aircraft with a Lewis gun. At this time he was serving aboard a French ship and was Mentioned in Despatches for his action.
Additional information
Leading Seaman Mantle was the only person in the Royal Navy to receive the Victoria Cross for a courageous deed on the English mainland. He joined the Navy at the age of 16. He had already seen action on convoy protection duty, and was one of the few Naval Gunners to have shot down a German aircraft with a Lewis gun. At this time he was serving aboard a French ship and was Mentioned in Despatches for his action.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Portman Royal Naval Cemetery, Dorset and on a plaque to HMS Foylebank in St Paul's Church, HMS Osprey, Portland, Dorset
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Jack Foreman Mantle by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.