Roll of Honour - Dorset - HMS Foylebank

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

PORTLAND FOYLEBANK WAR MEMORIAL

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 0.5 inch machine guns and four twin high angle 4 inch turrets. She arrived in Portland on 9 June 1940 for a build-up to anti-aircraft duties.H.M.S. FOYLEBANK possibly saw the most intense action in Portland Harbour. A squadron of German Stukka dive bombers attacked and sunk HMS Foylebank. Most of the crew were at breakfast, when 26 of Germany’s most feared aircraft, the JU87 stukka dive bombers, attacked her in Portland Harbour. The Ship fought back and 2/3 stukkas were shot down, but 22 bombs found their mark and her guns were put out of action. She sank 5th July 1940 with a loss of 176 sailors.

Many graves are unmark but others still exist locally:

SAILOR	A	A SAILOR OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR H.M.S. FOYLEBANK 4TH JULY 1940 KNOWN UNTO GOD There are 8 unknown graves like this one.
SAILOR	A	A SAILOR OF THE 1939 – 1945 WAR H.M.S. FOYLEBANK 4TH JULY 1940 KNOWN UNTO GOD. There are 4 graves like this one.
COLLINS	G H	ABLE SEAMAN ROYAL NAVY P/JX125803 H.M.S. FOYLEBANK 4TH JULY 1940 AGE 29 “TREASURED MEMORIES MUM AND DAD FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT”
HOLLOWAY	R S	ABLE SEAMAN ROYAL NAVY P/SSX26116 H.M.S. FOYLEBANK. 4TH JULY 1940 AGE 22 IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON REX WHO DIED IN ACTION MUM AND DAD
MANTLE V.C	J F	LEADING SEAMAN ROYAL NAVY P/JX 139070 H.M.S. FOYLEBANK 4TH JULY 1940 AGE 23. “BECAUSE WE DID NOT CHOOSE TO LIVE AND SHARE THE LAND FROM WHICH WE SPRUNG”
SEYMOUR	L G	ORD SEAMAN ROYAL NAVY P/JX 172726 AGE 21 H.M.S. FOYLEBANK 4TH JULY 1940 “IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF A DEAR SON AND BROTHER LEN, DEEP IN OUR HEARTS HE IS LIVING YET”
WALKER	A	ORD SEAMAN ROYAL NAVY P/JX178292 H.M.S. FOYLEBANK 4TH JULY 1940

Last updated 25 December, 2013

War Memorials Trust