Mantle, Jack Foreman

Date of birth:: April 12th, 1917 (Wandsworth/Dorset, Great Britain)
Date of death:: July 4th, 1940 (Portland/Dorset, Great Britain)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Portland Royal Naval Cemetery
Plot: C-E. Grave: 672.
Service number:: P/JX.139070
Nationality:: British

Biography

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Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Leading Seaman
Unit:: H.M.S. Foylebank, Royal Navy
Awarded on:: July 11th, 1940

LG 34893/4260.

Victoria Cross (VC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Leading Seaman
Unit:: H.M.S. Foylebank, Royal Navy
Awarded on:: June 21st, 1941

Citation:
"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."

LG 34938/5385.

Sources

Photo 2: Alun Nevett
Photo: Family
- Supplement to The London Gazette of 9th July 1940, Issue34893, Page 4260, dated 11th July 1940
- Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd September 1940, Issue 34938, Page 5385, dated 3rd September 1940
- Commonwealth Wargraves Commission