24 1941 HMS Hood sunk

[Keith at Tregenna]

24 1941 HMS Hood sunk

24th May 1941: HMS Hood sunk

The Mighty Hood


(A Tribute to H.M.S. Hood and Crew)


The mighty Hood, the name acquired,

She toured the world and was admired,

Her mighty grace, it shook the best,

Until disaster stunned the West.


For years before this tragic blow

Her beauty shone with supreme glow,

Throughout the world she was well known

For her splendour and her grace alone.


Her crew were proud of being part

Of a ships company with a superb heart,

When things went wrong as sure they must

The name of Hood restored their trust.


During the years of trial and woe

The Hood was first to have a go,

She fought her way through thick and thin

To show the world that we could win.


In the dark days of World War Two

We knew that Hood would see us through,

And she did until that fatal day

When Bismarck smashed our dreams away.


Her gallant crew had done their best,

But many souls were laid to rest.

Lives that were lost were not in vain

For the name of Hood would live again.


And those who perished on that day,

Their name will shine in bright array.

For years to come they'll stand supreme

As members of the finest team.


The Hood was something never lost,

Although this day we count the cost

Of comrades great who gave their lot,

But what they gave was not forgot.

H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: H.M.S. Hood Today - Poetry About H.M.S. Hood and Her Crew

[Keith at Tregenna]

The Hood’s fate was sealed at the Battle of the Denmark Strait on May 24 1941, when HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Hood engaged the German battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, both ships were attempting to gain access into the North Atlantic to intercept and attack Allied merchant shipping. While exchanging fire with Bismarck, one of the Bismarck’s shells ignited over a hundred tons of cordite in the Hoods aft magazines, cordite being an explosive which replaced gunpowder in the Victorian era. Due to extensive damage caused by the explosion to Hood’s hull the ship sank within three minutes, of the ships company of 1418 men, only three survived. Long after the war a German sailor from Bismarck stated after the Hood exploded there were no celebrations on the Bismarck. After the loss of Hood, HMS Prince of Wales, which was severely damaged continued the fight, however it soon became obvious if the battle continued the ship could also be lost, therefore the Prince of Wales withdrew. Later, the same month, the Bismarck was also sunk with the loss of 2000 lives on 27 May 1941.