Last veteran of HMS Hood passes.

[Dreadnought]

Last veteran of Hood sinking dies

Ted Briggs was only 18 years old during the Battle of Denmark Strait
The last remaining survivor of the sinking of WWII battle cruiser HMS Hood in May 1941 has died at the age of 85, his naval association has said.

Ted Briggs, from Hampshire, was one of just three survivors out of more than 1,400 crew after an exchange of fire with the German battleship Bismarck.

When asked about the sinking he said: "I was not a hero, I just survived."

Mr Briggs once said a sighting of HMS Hood as a boy had inspired him to join the Royal Navy as a signalman.

The teenager was assigned to HMS Hood, the Royal Navy's flagship, in 1939.

When Bismarck was spotted in the Denmark Strait in May 1941, HMS Hood was sent in pursuit.

During the Battle of Denmark Strait it was bombarded with shells, one of which caused a huge explosion that ripped through the ship, sinking it in less than three minutes.

In 2001, the wreck of HMS Hood was found 3,000m below the surface of the sea between Greenland and Iceland.

Mr Briggs, who was 18 at the time of the sinking, said he had survived because he was caught in an underwater air pocket.

After a short period of leave following the loss of the ship, Mr Briggs was assigned to another vessel to continue his naval career.

He served for another 30 years before retiring, later becoming president of HMS Hood Association and an MBE.
The Royal Navy's flagship was sent in pursuit of the Bismarck

Mr Briggs died at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth on Saturday, his friend and the chairman of HMS Hood Association, Peter Heys, said.

Mr Heys described him as a "perfect gentleman".

He added: "He was a humorous man but he did not like to be reminded of the sinking as he had to be pulled out of the freezing water."

Mr Briggs is survived by his wife Clare.

Midshipman William Dundas, who died in 1965, and able seaman Bob Tilburn, who died in 1995, were the other survivors of the sinking

A gentlemen through and through. Fairwinds and following seas Sir.
An entire crew now at final rest.

YouTube - The Mighty HMS HOOD 1918-1941

[zraver]

and he rejoins his shipmates.

[smilingassassin]

Rest in peace Ted Briggs and the rest of the crew of HMS Hood.

[gunnut]

Rest in peace, Mr. Briggs.

[RustyBattleship]

It is ironic that last night on the History Channel they re-ran their episode on Battleships and included an interview with Mr. Biggs.

A former supervisor of mine (Don Foster) collected a book off the Prinz Eugen when it was at LBNSY to be readied for the atomic bomb tests at Bikini. The ship's chief mess officer was an old shipmate of Don when they both served on the Nevada before the war. So Don collected a lot of souvenirs including Prinz Eugen em Ersten Gefecht. Though all written in German, the chapter dealing with the survivors of the hood included photos of all three men.

[T_igger_cs_30]

Rest in peace Ted............ I was very fortunate to have met this man , introduced by my father in law, a retired Naval officer, now also resting in peace, he was a true gentleman.

[ace16807]

I believe only now would he feel at peace, with his shipmates at last.

[BBwarrior]

RIP, Mr Briggs.