Jack Mantle

Born in Wandsworth, London, on 12 April 1917, Mantle was educated at Taunton's School in Southampton.[1]

Mantle was 23 years old, and an acting leading seaman in the Royal Navy during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 4 July 1940, during an air raid on Portland, England, Leading Seaman Mantle of HMS Foylebank, who was manning the starboard 20mm pom-pom gun, had his left leg shattered by the blast from a bomb early in the action. Although wounded again many times, he remained at his gun, training and firing by hand when Foylebank's electric power failed, until he collapsed and died. His citation in the London Gazette reads:

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.[2]

This was only the second occasion that the Victoria Cross has been awarded for action in the United Kingdom.

The Yeovil Sea Cadet unit carries the name T. S. Mantle V. C. in his honour.

A brass memorial detailing the incident and honouring Mantle can be found in Southampton Maritime Museum. It is placed to the left of the main entrance doors. This memorial was originally situated in 'Jack's Corner' at the City's Central Sports Centre – the name remains as a children's play area.

Mantle's VC and other medals are on loan to the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth.

In 2021, Mantle was remembered in the form of a new, permanent Portland stone memorial plinth, plaque and bench, overlooking Chesil Beach. This is situated opposite the Heights Hotel, Portland, Dorset.

• CWGC entry
• Leading Seaman J.F. Mantle in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
• Location of grave and VC medal (Dorset)
• Jack Foreman Mantle at victoriacross.org.uk
• Coxswain Edward Palmer, awarded BEM for rescue work. Also photos of the sinking of HMS Foylebank