Jack Mantle

Jack Foreman Mantle
Leading Seaman Jack Mantle
Born	(1917-04-12)12 April 1917 Wandsworth, London
Died	4 July 1940(1940-07-04) (aged 23) Portland Harbour
Buried	Royal Naval Cemetery, Portland
Allegiance	United Kingdom/British Empire
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1933–1940
Rank	Leading Seaman
Unit	HMS Foylebank
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Victoria Cross

Jack Foreman Mantle VC (12 April 1917 – 4 July 1940) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Mantle was educated at Taunton's School in Southampton

He 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 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 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.

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

Legacy

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

A brass memorial detailing the incident and honouring Jack Foreman 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 medal are on loan to the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth.

References

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

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