Ted Briggs Deceased
Posted on 05 October 2008 by Jack
Ted Briggs, who has died aged 85, was one of only three men out of a crew of 1,421 to survive when the battle cruiser Hood was sunk by the German warship Bismarck in the North Atlantic in May 1941.
As an 18-year-old Flag-Lieutenant’s messenger, Briggs was on Hood’s compass platform when a shell from Bismarck hit the ship between centre and stern, penetrated the deck, exploded and touched off the ammunition in the four-inch and 15-inch magazines. According to one witness, the column of flame generated was “four times the height of the mainmast”.
Ted Briggs himself recalled that he was lifted off his feet and dumped headfirst on the deck: “Then she started listing to starboard. She righted herself, and started going over to port. When she had gone over by about 40 degrees we realised she was not coming back.” There was no time, or need, for an order to abandon ship. Hood sank within three minutes.
On his way to the compass platform shortly before the action, Briggs had bumped into a fellow-sailor, Frank Tuxworth, with whom he had earlier been playing cards. Tuxworth joked: “Do you remember, Briggo, that when the Exeter went into action with the Graf Spee, there was only one signalman saved?” Briggs laughed and replied: “If that happens to us, it’ll be me who’s saved, Tux.”
Briggs was sucked down beneath the sea. He later wrote: “I had heard it was nice to drown. I stopped trying to swim upwards. The water was a peaceful cradle - I was ready to meet my God. My blissful acceptance of death ended in a sudden surge beneath me, which shot me to the surface like a decanted cork in a champagne bottle. I turned, and 50 yards away I could see the bows of the Hood vertical in the sea. It was the most frightening aspect of my ordeal, and a vision which was to recur terrifyingly in nightmares for the next 40 years.”
Briggs swam clear of the stricken ship and, when he looked back, she had gone.
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October 5th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
From one ‘old salt’ to another. May you forever be blessed with blue skies, fair winds and a following sea. RIP.
The Naval Prayer
O Eternal Lord God, who and rulest the raging of the sea;
who has compassed the waters with bounds until day and night come to an end; be pleased to receive into Thy almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us Thy servants,
and the Fleet in which we serve.
Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, and her Dominions, and a security for such as pass upon the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Commonwealth may in peace and quietness serve Thee our God; and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labours, and with a thankful remembrance of Thy mercies
to praise and glorify Thy Holy Name;
Amen.
First published in 1662 in the Book of Common Prayer,
The Naval Prayer has remained mostly unchanged since then,
with the exception of a change to the name of the monarch ,
the change from “Empire” to “Commonwealth”, a more recent
deletion of the phrase “though Jesus Christ our Lord near the end.”
October 5th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I remember watching the UK documentary of the search for (and discovery) of the wrecks of HMS Hood and the Bismarck. The personal accounts of Ted Briggs were moving and helped bring history to life better than any book I have ever read on the subject.
His passing is a sad reminder that virtually every day the ranks of remaining WWII veterans is being thinned by that unconquerable foe known as Father Time or Death. They gave the best years of their life to fight for our freedom and build the world afterwards.
RIP “old salt”, and may you be free of those nightmares now that you have joined your comrades.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
“The fact was, however, that this formidable vessel had one - and, as it turned out, fatal - weakness: her deck armour was not strong enough to withstand the vertical trajectory of a shell fired at extreme range. It was a weakness that the Bismarck was able to exploit.”
Hood’s thin deck armour was a deliberate design in exchange for speed. The British Admiralty was aware of this ’soft spot’ and plans had been in the works for quite sometime to refit her. Alas, delays because of the huge costs involved and the a war intervened and Hood was lost before that refit could be undertaken. It still might not have made a difference anyway.
Here is an interesting link about Bismarck and Hood for those interested in this famous but short battle.
http://www.vincelewis.net/bismarck.html
October 5th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I put this entry up wondering if anyone even cared anymore. It is now apparent that some do and that is a very positive sign.
My view — everytime we lose one of these old soldiers who gave the likes of Jack Layton the right to scream and rant tears fill my eyes.
“Rest in peace Ted.”
Gordon Brown should attend his funeral and remind Britain of what it once was.
October 5th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I saw a documentary on the loss of the HMS Hood. I believe it was Mr Briggs who was interviewed. As he recounted that day you could see in his face and eyes that he was reliving it as he spoke. Very moving, and a stark reminded of what PTSD actually is. Also a reminder of all those who have served and witnessed first hand the horrors of war, who struggle daily with the memories. Rest in peace Ted Briggs, you have served well. Thank you.
My grandfather Ernie Biggs was seriously injured in a shell burst during WW1, his fellow soldier died in his arms. My uncle Philip Biggs was one of the few who escaped from Dieppe and then fought with the Canadian Army through the Netherlands. Neither would speak of their experiences. I am sure the memories of the horrors troubled them and the only therapy available for them at the time was, “just keep a stiff upper lip chap”.
mid island mike
October 5th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
“I put this entry up wondering if anyone even cared anymore”
Jack, I often wonder if anyone cares about the memory of the individuals like Ted Briggs, not to mention the many who died during the wars. Sure, there appears to be a renewed dedication to the memory of the “honoured dead” as a whole in recent years, but in general it seems that there is little interest in preserving the memory of them as individuals. They were all someone’s husband, father, brother, uncle, or son. They all had hopes and dreams of their own that would never be realized.
It was very sad to realize that so few people even realized this year was the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI.
So, yes…..some people still do care…….and we don’t really give a damn what someone like Jack Layton thinks!
October 5th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Jack, before that could happen, first someone is going to have to remind Gordon Brown of what Britain once was… and, from the way things are going, I doubt Brown would relish the opportunity to be reminded of just how far he and his party betrayed what men like Briggs fought and died to preserve.
Rest in peace, Ted Briggs. There’s a reason why you and your companions have been called the greatest generation.