MALE Jack

Jack Male was born on 17th September 1919. He entered Old Swinford Hospital on 17th December 1929.

Source for additional information: Old Foleyans Remembered Casualties of WW II published by the Old Foleyans Association, October 1996.

HMS Javelin was part of the 5th Flotilla along with HMS Jackal, HMS Jupiter and HMS Jersey. The ships, under the command of Louis Mountbatten (later Lord Mountbatten) were based in Plymouth and they were tasked with seeking out German destroyers that had been raiding merchant shipping in the SW English Channel. On the night of 29th November 1940 the four ships were by located three German destroyers crossing in front of them right to left. Mountbatten ordered an 80-degree manoeuvre to port in order to bring his flotilla onto a parallel course with the enemy ships. This change of course at full speed and on full helm threw the guns instruments out of synchronisation causing the director crews to lose their targets. This resulted in HMS Javelin being hit simultaneously fore and aft by two torpedoes, causing the after magazine to explode. Three officers and 43 ratings were killed. Miraculously the ship did not sink and she was towed back to Plymouth where she underwent major repairs over the following year, not resuming service until Jan 1942.

Jack Male has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.