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| Last gunship battle veteran dies | Last gunship battle veteran dies |
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| 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. | 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 a ferocious gun battle with German battleship The Bismarck. | |
| When asked about the sinking he said: "I was not a hero, I just survived." | 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 Navy as a signalman. | Mr Briggs once said a sighting of the HMS Hood as a boy had inspired him to join the Navy as a signalman. |
| The teenager was assigned to the Royal Naval flagship in 1939. | The teenager was assigned to the Royal Naval flagship in 1939. |
| When The Bismark was spotted in the Denmark Strait in May 1941, HMS Hood was sent in pursuit.The Royal Naval flagship was sent in pursuit of The Bismark | When The Bismark was spotted in the Denmark Strait in May 1941, HMS Hood was sent in pursuit.The Royal Naval flagship was sent in pursuit of The Bismark |
| 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. | 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, she was found 3000m down in the sea between Greenland and Iceland in 2001. | In 2001, she was found 3000m down in the sea between Greenland and Iceland in 2001. |
| Mr Briggs, who was 18 at the time, said the only reason he survived was because he had been caught in an air bubble underwater. | Mr Briggs, who was 18 at the time, said the only reason he survived was because he had been caught in an air bubble underwater. |
| After a short period a leave, Mr Briggs was assigned to another ship to continue his naval career. | After a short period a leave, Mr Briggs was assigned to another ship to continue his naval career. |
| He served for another 30 years before retiring and was later awarded an MBE and became president of the HMS Hood Association. | He served for another 30 years before retiring and was later awarded an MBE and became president of the HMS Hood Association. |
| 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 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". | 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." | 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." |
| Midshipman William Dundass, who died in 1965 and able seaman Bob Tilburn who died in 1995, were the other survivors. | Midshipman William Dundass, who died in 1965 and able seaman Bob Tilburn who died in 1995, were the other survivors. |