Yeovil Sea Cadets
Yeovil Sea cadets
Founded over 60 years ago
The first Sea Cadet Unit was established in 1854 at Whitstable, Kent, created by communities wanting to give young people instruction on a naval theme. Traditionally old seafarers provided training while local businessmen funded the Unit Headquarters. Today there are over 400 Units across the UK each with charitable status enabling them to raise funds to meet their running costs. All Units are members of the Sea Cadet Corps and are governed by the national charity, the Marine Society & Sea Cadets.
Yeovil
and District Sea
Cadet Corps was
founded in 1953
and initially
based at Grass
Royal School
before moving to
Central Road in
the old glove
factory, then
moving to the
old hall by the
Nelson pub
before moving to Chelston
Avenue. It
finally moved in 1996
and is now based
in Building 147
at the Royal
Naval Air
Station
Yeovilton (HMS
Heron). The
unit's Royal
Marines Cadet
Detachment
(RMCD) was
formed in
January 2008.
The Unit is the
largest in the
district with a
complement made
up of Sea
Cadets, Royal
Marines Cadets
and Juniors. The
crest, at left, is
an adapted
version of the
parent unit's
crest.
The Yeovil Sea Cadet unit carries the name TS Mantle VC in honour of Jack Foreman Mantle VC (12 April 1917 – 4 July 1940), an English recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was 23 years old, and an acting leading seaman in the Royal Navy during the Second World War when he was awarded the VC for the following.
During an air raid on Portland, Dorset, in 1940 Leading Seaman Mantle of HMS Foylebank was manning the starboard 20mm pom-pom gun, and his left leg was shattered by the blast from a bomb early in the action. Although wounded again, he remained at his gun until he collapsed and died. His citation in the London Gazette stated "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.
gallery
Courtesy of Dave
Stone
The Sea Cadets photographed during the late 1950s, when they were based at Grass Royal School.
Courtesy of Dave
Stone
The Yeovil Sea Cadets photographed around 1961 outside the HQ in Central Road.
Courtesy of Dave
Stone
Sea Cadet Dave
Stone,
photographed
just before
being the
Mayor's Guard
when RNAS
Yeovilton was
presented with
the Freedom of
Yeovil. (He
hasn't changed a
bit).
The following series of photographs, courtesy of Jack Sweet, show the 50th Anniversary parade of the Yeovil Sea Cadets, TS Mantle VC, on 6 August 2003.