Tributes paid to 'heroic' HMS Foylebank seaman

Tributes have been paid to a seaman's "heroic" actions during the 85th commemoration of the sinking of a World War Two flak ship.

Leading Seaman Jack Mantle continued to fire at German bombers who attacked HMS Foylebank on 4 July 1940 at Portland Harbour in Dorset despite being fatally wounded.

The 23-year-old stayed with his gun until the last German aircraft left, for which he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Mayor of Portland Charlie Flack said it was important to "stop such actions fading from the memory".

The armed merchant cruiser went down with the loss of 176 men, including Mr Mantle, when it was attacked by more than 20 Stuka dive-bombers.

He was manning an anti-aircraft gun aboard HMS Foylebank, despite a shattered left leg and other wounds caused by bomb explosions.

His Victoria Cross is the only one awarded to the Royal Navy for an act of valour on mainland Britain during World War Two.

Portland Port organised the commemoration, which included a service at the Royal Naval Cemetery Portland, overlooking the harbour where the deadly raid took place.

Commodore Tristram Kirkwood said Mr Mantle's actions had been "grounded in a deep sense of duty to others".

Wreaths were laid at his gravestone, where an inscription reads: "Because we did not choose to live and shame the country from which we sprung."

Mr Flack, a Royal Navy veteran, said the ceremony was a fitting way to honour all of those lost on the flak ship.

"It is important that we hold commemorations like this, not only to recognise what a hero Jack Mantle was but also to stop such actions fading from the memory," he said.

Portland Port has operated on a commercial basis since 1996, following its long and distinguished history as a naval base.

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