AGAIN we return to the story of the sinking of HMS Foylebank, one of the biggest tragedies to take place in the borough of Weymouth and Portland.

In this tragedy 176 men were killed in a morning air raid on July 4 1940.

We must mention Jack Mantle who received the Victoria Cross for his actions on that day.

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

Leading Seaman Jack Mantle was in charge of the Starboard pom-pom when Foylebank was attacked.

His citation reads: “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.”

Thanks to Brian Wilkins for getting in touch and sharing his tale of hearing the bombing while he was on his way to school.

Brian, 81, of Weymouth, said: “I was six-years-old and I was going to Holy Trinity School with my friend Billy Monger.

“I remember just after 8.30am the bombs were going off. We climbed onto the wall of the railway bridge at Buxton Road.

“We watched these stukas coming down and saw all these explosions.

“It went on for what seemed like a long time. We heard the gun firing away.

“When it stopped and the planes went away we rushed off to school.

“As we were on our way, a woman came out of her house, grabbed us and put us under the stairs and we had to remain there for the next two hours.

“We weren’t really scared of the situation, we were just scared we were going to be late for school.

“In those two hours we were under the stairs everything had gone away totally by then.

“Although we were very young we were aware that we were at war.”

Brian said that his friend Billy has since passed away.

n If you have memories to share, contact Looking Back on 01305 830987.