Albert Edward Pryke Briggs MBE (1 March 1923 – 4 October 2008)[1] was a British seaman and the last of the three survivors of the destruction of the battlecruiser HMS Hood.

Born 1 March 1923 in Redcar, North Riding of Yorkshire, Briggs first saw Hood at anchor off the River Tees when he was 12, and volunteered to join the Royal Navy the following day.

[3] Soon after the Second World War began, Hood was assigned to patrol and escort duty in the North Atlantic and also served as part of Force H in the Mediterranean Sea.

In May 1941, Hood was dispatched with HMS Prince of Wales to intercept the German battleship Bismarck in the Denmark Straits.

[4] The Battle of the Denmark Strait and the loss of Hood were regarded by the British public as one of the greatest disasters to befall the Royal Navy during the war.

[5] Briggs states that no order was given to abandon ship, saying that "It just wasn't necessary," and that he found himself in the water about 50 yards (50 m) from Hood as her B-Turret went under after he made it only halfway down the ladder leading to the bridge.

Briggs paddled his raft to the other two survivors and stayed by their sides, holding their hands and singing popular British songs to keep them conscious.

In both publications and recorded interviews, he refers to the sacrifice made by the squadron's navigating officer Commander John Warrand, who stood aside and allowed him to exit the compass platform first.

Briggs retired on 2 February 1973, with the rank of lieutenant, settled in the south of England and worked in Fareham as a furnished lettings manager.

In July 2001, Briggs visited the wreck site and released a plaque which commemorates the lost crew of the Hood.