Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 A hold was placed on the order whilst design improvements were made and in the end only Hood was completed. She was too late for WW1 and in fact was commissioned in 1920. She served with a number of our different Fleets -usually as the Flagship. After a major refit in 1936 she was sent to be the Flagship to the Mediterranean Fleet - this was in readiness, as Italy had just invaded Abysinnia. And this is where our story begins. A young Petty Officer - in the Ordnance department, was posted to Hood in 1937. He had great pride in his posting and kept his own LOG of shipboard events. He combined the entries together with photos that he had taken - a rare combination for an unofficial Log/Diary - and worth a lot for the owning of the copyright. I had this in the shop and it has now gone to a serious collector in the UK. This man was Petty Officer William Frederick BRABROOK. He was to serve with Hood until 1939 when he was transferred to HMS Belfast - the City Class heavy cruiser now moored in London, near Tower Bridge. He served on this ship until the end of the War - not retiring until 1975 with the Rank of Commander (Eng.) (This is the equiv. in the Army of a Lt. Colonel) Download attachment: 020.jpg This is Commander Brabrook - on the left in later life - and on the right from sometime during the War. The two 1st WW medals were his Father's - who was a Sergeant in the Royal Marines. He was awarded an MBE and this shown together with his Campaign Medals. The one on the end is the civilian issue to commemorate Dunkirk - he must have felt strongly about this to have it on his Bar.. He received the 39/45 Star ; Atlantic Star - with France and Germany Bar (D.Day) ; Africa Star - with North Africa Clasp (1942-43) ; Pacific Star ; Defence Medal ; War Medal. Click here to view the article 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 A close-up of the Atlantic , the Africa Star and the Pacific Star. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-11805800-1390392783.jpgclick A closer view of the Set. Being British they are un-named. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-30634700-1390392912.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 This is Sub - Lieutenant William Brabrook - taken from the official history of HMS Belfast. This photo was from 1944. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-15315800-1390393234.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-96401500-1390393600.jpgclick Some details on HMS HOOD 46,680 tons Fully laden in war time 47,430. Admiralty figures. Brabrook shows it at 42,000. Length 860.7 feet 262.3 metres Beam 104.2 feet 31.8 metres Speed 28 knots 52 kph 32 mph Range 5332 nautical miles 9870 Kms. 6140 miles Guns - She had 4 multiple turrets - each with two 15 inch guns (42cm) 12x 5.5 inch guns + very numerous smaller weapons and anti-aircraft guns. Torpedoes. one set on either side of two torpedo tubes - for above surface firing Aircraft. One spotting plane. Hood's crew compliment - in Peace time - was : 81 Officers and 1244 P.O's and Men. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 We now come to the log entries and pictures that Brabrook kept. Altogether there 8 large volumes I suspect that he may have just kept written entries and put these together after he retired. These are obviously a selection of ones I thought would be of interest. Particularly, where the German Fleet was bombed by the Spanish Monarchist Forces and Deutschland was damaged and many of the crew killed and wounded. There are many photos of Warships that Hood met and they form an interesting view into the Naval past. Most of the photos have a caption - or, are explained in the log entry. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-31762900-1390394836.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-20038500-1390395375.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-27403100-1390395472.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-50419700-1390396287.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-74824400-1390396381.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-29648100-1390396465.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-02198500-1390396588.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-07840700-1390396736.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-23330400-1390396845.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-90169200-1390396942.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-04280600-1390397028.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-54690800-1390397118.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-71890200-1390397200.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-78338100-1390397283.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 The next two pictures are of Brabrook and friends in off duty hours. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-63966900-1390397718.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-81743200-1390397868.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-86661600-1390397977.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-15019300-1390398065.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-37030300-1390398168.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-69102300-1390398252.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-61251700-1390398410.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-54833600-1390398501.jpgclick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-61245200-1390398738.jpgclick I must be honest and say that I had not previously heard of the bombing of the German Med. Fleet by the Spanish Air Force loyal to their King. The Deutschland - the Flagship, had earlier called at Gibralter to pay respects to the British Admiral. Soon after they returned with numerous dead and many wounded. They had also suffered structural damage. The British took the wounded to hospital , gave help to the ship and arranged a Service funeral for the dead. This included details of seamen and of Royal Marines. You will also see the Gibralter Police in their British Helmets. The dead were buried - as you will see from the photos. Then an order came from Hitler that they were to be brought back to Germany for buriel. This involved exhumation and them being taken back to the German ship. The quality of the photos is not great - but, are still the first I have seen from a Naval background. I would be interested to learn from any of our German Members, where they were buried - what sort of Service was arranged - and what happened to the Captain - or, Admiral - on the Deutschland ? http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-61245200-1390398738.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-52648100-1390399421.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-69070500-1390399529.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-61347700-1390399612.jpgclick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-50888700-1390400171.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-72596500-1390400294.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-92995400-1390400385.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-87636700-1390400485.jpgclick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-01856100-1390400741.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2014/post-6209-0-43425400-1390400819.jpgclick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 THE FINAL CHAPTER In May 1941 HMS Hood was based at Scapa Flo - in Scotland. She - and the Battleship HMS Prince of Wales were ordered to pursue the German Battleship - the Bismarck, which was accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prince Eugen. They caught up with Bismark in the Denmark Straits and opened fire. Bismarck returned fire and in the opening salvoes Hood was hit on the stern. She exploded with great force and only three survivors - who were blown off the upper decks, survived and were found. Bismarck - after a long chase was also caught and sunk. Hood sunk on 24 May 1941. The accepted reason for the explosion has always been that the decks were not heavily armoured - she was built for speed - and a shell penetrated and hit the main rear magazine. Both wrecks have since been found and explored - although, it is still the rear magazine which is blamed. However, the experts are not sure if it was deck penetration - or, the turret being blown-up and the flame going to the magazine. They have also considered that a shell may have dropped short and continued underwater to hit below the armour belt. I don't suppose if we will ever know - however, there is still an HMS Hood Association to keep her memory alive. Mervyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azyeoman Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Here's some more on the Deutschland that you'll find interesting. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/56573-rare-british-group-with-german-decoration/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dond Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Very interesting Mervyn. Thanks for sharing that with us. Is there a website for the exploration of the wreck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 I haven't looked - I have seen programmes on both Hood and Bismarck wrecks - try their names for a search ? Mervyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Wolfe Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 An interesting and valuable addition to the forum. Thank you for taking so much effort and time to record this important piece of history. Regards Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbell2207 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 very nice article. my cousin CPO Percy Cabell went down on the hood. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul R Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Excellent topic and write up! Never heard of this incident either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_Aindow Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Excellent Stuff and really useful thanks for sharing, amazing. tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Tom - thankyou for your comments. I see from your profile that you have a number of research projects and are a Regular member of the Navy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any help - and post some of your work. Best wishes Mervyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odulf Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 The Germans issued a postcard, to commemorate the victims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 Thanks Odulf - I hadn't even heard of the bombing until I saw the Commander's logbooks. Mervyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hucks216 Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 With the clash between Hood & Bismarck in mind, here is a link to a thread I started 3 years ago, showing the Wehrpass to a sailor who served on the Bismarck at the time and was killed when she met her demise... Bismarck Wehrpass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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