Jack Foreman Mantle
Encyclopedia
Jack Foreman Mantle VC
(12 April 1917 - 4 July 1940) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
in the Royal Navy
during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
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 Foylebanks electric power failed, until he collapsed and died.
This was only the second occasion that the Victoria Cross has been awarded for action in the United Kingdom.
Sea Cadet unit carries the name T. S. Mantle V. C. in his honour.
Jack was an 'Old Tauntonian' - a former schoolboy of Taunton's School, Southampton
, founded in 1760 at the bequest of Alderman Richard Taunton (1684–1752), wine merchant, privateer and former Mayor of Southampton.
A brass memorial detailing the incident and honouring Jack Foreman Mantle V.C. 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.
in Portsmouth
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(12 April 1917 - 4 July 1940) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Mantle was 23 years old, and an acting leading seamanLeading Seaman
Leading seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of corporal and some navies use corporal rather than...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 July 1940 during an air raid on Portland
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Leading Seaman Mantle of HMS Foylebank
HMS Foylebank
HMS Foylebank was a converted 5,500 ton merchant ship active during the Second World War. She was launched in 1930 and requisitioned in September 1939. She was converted into an anti-aircraft ship, equipped with .5 inch machine guns and four twin high angle 4 inch turrets. The Foylebank saw...
, 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 Foylebanks electric power failed, until he collapsed and died.
This was only the second occasion that the Victoria Cross has been awarded for action in the United Kingdom.
Memorials
The YeovilYeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
Sea Cadet unit carries the name T. S. Mantle V. C. in his honour.
Jack was an 'Old Tauntonian' - a former schoolboy of Taunton's School, Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, founded in 1760 at the bequest of Alderman Richard Taunton (1684–1752), wine merchant, privateer and former Mayor of Southampton.
A brass memorial detailing the incident and honouring Jack Foreman Mantle V.C. can be found in Southampton Maritime Museum
Southampton Maritime Museum
Southampton Maritime Museum is housed at The Wool House, a medieval warehouse in Southampton, Hampshire.The museum documents the maritime heritage of Southampton and the Solent area, its history as a base for ocean liners and in particular its connections to RMS Titanic.Its mission statement is:...
. 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.
The medal
Mantle's VC and other medal are on loan to the Royal Naval MuseumRoyal Naval Museum
The Royal Naval Museum is the museum of the history of the Royal Navy in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard section of HMNB Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. Its current Acting Director is Graham Dobbin....
in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
.
External links
- 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