HMS Foylebank was a converted 5,500 ton merchant ship. She was converted into an anti-aircraft ship, equipped with 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) machine guns, two quad 2-pounder pom-poms and four twin high angle 4-inch gun turrets. The Foylebank saw action in Portland Harbour next to the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. She arrived in Portland on 9 June 1940 for a work-up to anti-aircraft duties.

On 4 July 1940 whilst the majority of her crew were at breakfast, unidentified aircraft were reported to the south. These were originally thought to be Allied aircraft returning to base but they turned out to be 26 Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers. These aircraft had the objective of disabling the Foylebank which was seen as a threat to their plans to destroy Britain's coastal shipping. In an eight-minute attack, two aircraft were shot down by the Foylebank but an estimated 22 bombs hit the ship and the ship listed to port, shrouded in smoke. She sank on 5 July 1940.

An official list of Officers and men serving on H.M.S. Foylebank, at the time of the attack on 4th July 1940 states that from a total of 292 Officers and Men aboard H.M.S. Foylebank, a total of 72 people lost their lives, including 14 Officers from an original number of 28.

Compiled by Ken Austin from information supplied by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. www.cwgc.org.

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