HMS Hood bell recovery |
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Pedro
Senior Member Joined: February 20 2016 Location: Cumbria, UK Status: Offline Points: 192 |
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Posted: February 20 2016 at 4:27pm |
I think retrieving the bell will do some good and as is said, it was the request of one of only three survivors. But does this set a precedent for other war graves? How far should you go? I imagine there might be some relatives who would not thank you for this, wanting it kept with their loved one. But there might be others who would might even like their lost one's remains recovered. Hard one to call I feel.
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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do post it if you find one - we really do need to remember and make it personal
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Pukka Bundook
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
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For those interested, here is a link to the HMS Hood association. lots of photos of the ship & her crew over the years, inc. many pictures of those lost in 1941.
Will ask the family if anyone has a photo of Cyril. Richard. PS, Her big guns make our Enfields look a bit small!; 15" guns, 428 lbs cordite, a 1920 lb she!!, @ 2462 F/sec. Range 30,180 yards..... Off hand, the load would appear pretty close to the .303, just sized up a bit! Should get me calculator out.....
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paddyofurniture
Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 5255 |
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God rest them all.
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Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
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25-5
Special Member Donating Member Joined: February 19 2013 Location: 1945 Status: Offline Points: 286 |
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Thanks Pukka. A personal story like that puts a sad human face on such a loss as the HMS Hood. Your sharing brings history alive.
Around here the hood is a gang infested part of Chicago.
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For the pikes must be together at the rising of the moon.
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Canuck
Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Agassiz BC Status: Offline Points: 3535 |
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Very touching anecdote, Pukka Bundook! Thank you so much for sharing that!
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Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually
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Pukka Bundook
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
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Paddy,
Cyril joined the R. Navy as soon as he left school. HMS Hood was his first "big" ship. He used to tell his mother, "Don't worry mam, it's unsinkable!" She never did get over it. neither did his dad. His mam wore black the rest of her life. I think bringing the bell up is a good way to remember the crew. It takes something Tangible to focus peoples thoughts. I may have got his age wrong. (memory and all that) My mother thought he was same age as her older brother, so he'd be 22 or so. Mind, her memory isn't as good as it used to be. She was 16 at the time. "Always immaculate" was how she described him, "Always very smart". Was talking to him just prior to them setting sail.
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paddyofurniture
Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 5255 |
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May he RIP.
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Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
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Pukka Bundook
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
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My mother's cousin Petty Officer Cyril Wharfe (29) was on the Hood. Still is I suppose.
Mixed about the bell. Normally I have an opinion!
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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there is more and more of that these days as the efforts become more sophisticated , its not all about 'treasures' its about the memories and having families with loss know what happened rather than be in the darkness
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Shamu
Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 17603 |
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We once accidentally discovered a War Grave Sunken U-boat.
One thing we did was to retrieve a gold pocket watch that was engraved. The watch was shot, but the case cleaned up very nicely. We contacted the U-boat museum & historical society & were able to return it to the daughter of the owner. Sound oafish I know, but we didn't know it was a war grave at the time, no-one did. When she received it it allowed her to finally lay her father, who was just listed as "missing" at rest. Sometimes there are special circumstances. |
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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i agree with zed on this one - there was a time when i might have said the opposite , but today with all of the revissionist history BS i want the true story known .
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Zed
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If people can see the bell in the Navy Museum; those that know the history can pay their respects, and youngster's on school visits can learn about the history of the Hood and have a thought for the crew!
So I think it's OK; plus according to the article, finding the bell was a wish of one of the 3 survivors!
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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paddyofurniture
Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 5255 |
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God rest them all.
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Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
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hoadie
Moderator Group Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9003 |
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Tom Patten was there..on a smaller ship in escort. He saw her "go up".
Sadly, hes gone now, & cant comment on his feelings about it. |
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Loose wimmen tightened here
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Bear43
Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3059 |
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I have mixed emotions here. Part of me thinks it should have been left on the bottom, it is after all a massive war grave and should not be disturbed. Another part of me thinks it was right to bring the bell up. It is a direct link to the lives lost, a solid piece that shows the very dear price of freedom.
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