Ted Briggs: RIP

[Jimbo 175]

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 the 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 the Bismark was spotted in the Denmark Strait in May 1941, the Hood was sent in pursuit.

HMS Hood

 

 

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

 

In 2001, the wreck of the Hood was found 3000m deep in the sea between Greenland and Iceland.

 

Mr Briggs, who was 18 at the time of the sinking, said he 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 the HMS Hood Association and an MBE.

 

Mr Briggs died at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth on Saturday, his friend and the chairman of the 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 pulled out of the freezing water."

 

Mr Briggs is survived by his wife Clare.

 

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

[Tom 14021]

Rest In Peace.

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 4090]

RIP Sailor.

[Fop 1]

[Craig 6702]

A true hero.... it's a wonder he didn't turn into an ice cube after sinking in the Denmark Strait.

 

RIP

[Rob W 0]

Horrendous disaster - as usual superb Jorman gunnery from a modern battleship against an old British Battle Cruiser - shades of Jutland again

[Happy Face 29]

I used to thoroughly enjoy the escapades of his grandson Jonny.

 

RIP

[tinofbeans 91]

if we'd have done what the germans had done with their ships and improved certain area's of armour the hood could probably have survived. as it was it was a really horrific disaster. the hood went through a mid life upgrade but it didn't address a lot of serious issues.

 

RIP.

[Fop 1]

if we'd have done what the germans had done with their ships and improved certain area's of armour the hood could probably have survived. as it was it was a really horrific disaster. the hood went through a mid life upgrade but it didn't address a lot of serious issues.

 

RIP.

 

At least a generation behind the Germans, weak deck armour and paired with an unfinished ship. However it still might well have played out completely differently if they'd managed to attack as planned, but then that is war I guess.

[Craig 6702]

Horrendous disaster - as usual superb Jorman gunnery from a modern battleship against an old British Battle Cruiser - shades of Jutland again

 

Oh fucking hell... he was on the Bismarck too....