Ted Briggs, last survivor of the HMS Hood, dies at 85 - Aircraft of World War II

syscom3 · 10-06-2008, 08:52 PM

Ted Briggs, last survivor of the HMS Hood, dies at 85

The last survivor of Royal Navy battlecruiser sunk by the Bismarck in Atlantic in 1941 has died.

By Urmee Khan
Last Updated: 8:09PM BST 05 Oct 2008

Ted Briggs, 85, was one of only three of 1,418 crew that survived the sinking during the Battle of the Denmark Strait.

Mr Briggs, from Fareham in Hampshire, passed away at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth on Saturday night.

He was boy signalman aged 18 when the fifth salvo from the Bismarck hit the ship's magazine resulting in a catastrophic explosion. It tore the ship in half and it sank in less than three minutes.

The flagship of the fleet was part of a force ordered to engage the Bismarck and her escort cruiser Prinz Eugen off Greenland.

Mr Briggs was near the bridge when the warship began to roll and he was sucked under by the sinking ship before being propelled back up.

He was soon joined by the only two other survivors; midshipman William Dundass, who died in 1965 and able seaman Bob Tilburn who died in 1995.

The trio spent three hours on the freezing sea before they were picked up by the destroyer HMS Electra close to death.

Briggs, who was president of the HMS Hood Association, described what he saw in the aftermath:

"When I came to the surface I was on her (the Hood's) port side...I turned and swam as best I could in water 4" thick with oil and managed to get on one of the small rafts she carried, of which there were a large number floating around.

"When I turned again she had gone and there was a fire on the water where her bows had been. Over on the other side I saw Dundas and Tilburn on similar rafts. There was not another soul to be seen.

"We hand-paddled towards each other and held on to one another's rafts until our hands became too numb to do so."

In the days after the sinking, Britain's wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the Bismarck found and sunk.

On May 27, the battleship was finally sunk after several days of attacks by Royal Navy ships and the Royal Air Force.

Peter Heys, chairman of the HMS Hood Association said: "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 left the navy in 1973 at the rank of lieutenant and he then became a manager of an estate agents in Fareham. He was awarded the MBE in 1973.

The wreck of HMS Hood was discovered in 2001 and Mr Briggs lay a bronze plaque naming all those who died.

FLYBOYJ · 10-06-2008, 09:03 PM

Aaron Brooks Wolters · 10-06-2008, 09:25 PM

RabidAlien · 10-06-2008, 11:17 PM

Rest easy, sailor.

Thorlifter · 10-06-2008, 11:32 PM

evangilder · 10-06-2008, 11:33 PM

Gnomey · 10-07-2008, 10:42 AM

Soundbreaker Welch? · 10-07-2008, 05:31 PM

so few survived the hood, and now they are gone.

Wurger · 10-07-2008, 06:05 PM

ToughOmbre · 10-07-2008, 06:14 PM

Loved hearing him being interviewed on the various documentaries produced about the Bismarck and Hood. His love and dedication to his ship and shipmates always came thru.

Here's to you Ted

TO

Njaco · 10-07-2008, 08:30 PM

One of the most amazing naval battles.

rochie · 10-08-2008, 05:43 AM

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 10-08-2008, 02:01 PM

If there are any survivors of the Bismarck left, I am sure this is a sad day for them as well.

trackend · 10-08-2008, 03:19 PM

Back with your shipmates Ted so long

Marcel · 10-08-2008, 03:55 PM

10-06-2008, 08:52 PM	#1
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,277	Ted Briggs, last survivor of the HMS Hood, dies at 85 Ted Briggs, last survivor of the HMS Hood, dies at 85 The last survivor of Royal Navy battlecruiser sunk by the Bismarck in Atlantic in 1941 has died. By Urmee Khan Last Updated: 8:09PM BST 05 Oct 2008 Ted Briggs, 85, was one of only three of 1,418 crew that survived the sinking during the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Mr Briggs, from Fareham in Hampshire, passed away at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth on Saturday night. He was boy signalman aged 18 when the fifth salvo from the Bismarck hit the ship's magazine resulting in a catastrophic explosion. It tore the ship in half and it sank in less than three minutes. The flagship of the fleet was part of a force ordered to engage the Bismarck and her escort cruiser Prinz Eugen off Greenland. Mr Briggs was near the bridge when the warship began to roll and he was sucked under by the sinking ship before being propelled back up. He was soon joined by the only two other survivors; midshipman William Dundass, who died in 1965 and able seaman Bob Tilburn who died in 1995. The trio spent three hours on the freezing sea before they were picked up by the destroyer HMS Electra close to death. Briggs, who was president of the HMS Hood Association, described what he saw in the aftermath: "When I came to the surface I was on her (the Hood's) port side...I turned and swam as best I could in water 4" thick with oil and managed to get on one of the small rafts she carried, of which there were a large number floating around. "When I turned again she had gone and there was a fire on the water where her bows had been. Over on the other side I saw Dundas and Tilburn on similar rafts. There was not another soul to be seen. "We hand-paddled towards each other and held on to one another's rafts until our hands became too numb to do so." In the days after the sinking, Britain's wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the Bismarck found and sunk. On May 27, the battleship was finally sunk after several days of attacks by Royal Navy ships and the Royal Air Force. Peter Heys, chairman of the HMS Hood Association said: "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 left the navy in 1973 at the rank of lieutenant and he then became a manager of an estate agents in Fareham. He was awarded the MBE in 1973. The wreck of HMS Hood was discovered in 2001 and Mr Briggs lay a bronze plaque naming all those who died. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?" Last edited by syscom3; 10-06-2008 at 08:55 PM.

10-06-2008, 09:03 PM	#2
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,049	__________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

10-06-2008, 11:17 PM	#4
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,823	Rest easy, sailor. __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

10-06-2008, 11:32 PM	#5
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,345	__________________

10-06-2008, 11:33 PM	#6
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,804	__________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

10-06-2008, 09:25 PM	#3
Aaron Brooks Wolters Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Abingdon, VA. Posts: 2,283

10-07-2008, 10:42 AM	#7
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,217	__________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

10-07-2008, 05:31 PM	#8
Soundbreaker Welch? Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,893	so few survived the hood, and now they are gone. __________________ "His motor's conked out!" "What's the differance, they're all Nazis!" "Luke, shut up!" "Fear the hook!" "Oh.....I wanna fly." "You mean the kind that go under water and fly up the stairs?" "What you doing? Oh Nooooo!"

10-07-2008, 06:05 PM	#9
Wurger Siggy Master Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 13,967	__________________

10-07-2008, 06:14 PM	#10
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,230	Loved hearing him being interviewed on the various documentaries produced about the Bismarck and Hood. His love and dedication to his ship and shipmates always came thru. Here's to you Ted TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

10-07-2008, 08:30 PM	#11
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,228	One of the most amazing naval battles. __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

10-08-2008, 05:43 AM	#12
rochie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: billingham nr middlesbrough uk Posts: 3,105	__________________ "We're not easily frightened. Also we know how hard it is for an army to cross the Channel — the last little corporal to try it came a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate to us until you're marching up Whitehall! ...and even then we won't listen!" quote from B.O.B movie

10-08-2008, 02:01 PM	#13
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,152	If there are any survivors of the Bismarck left, I am sure this is a sad day for them as well. __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I]

10-08-2008, 03:19 PM	#14
trackend Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canvey Island, Essex Posts: 4,029	Back with your shipmates Ted so long

10-08-2008, 03:55 PM	#15
Marcel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht Posts: 3,834	__________________ " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

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