I am extremely gratefull to Ralph Brigginshaw for his ‘memories’ and all his wonderfull photo’s, and to Ron Cope for his hard work in tracking him down. Ralph was born in the village of Chiseldon near Swindon in 1920. He left school at14 which was not unusual in those days. He joined the Navy in July 1935 as a ‘Boy Sailor’ at H.M.S. St.Vincent. He had two brothers who also served in the Navy during the war. On completing his basic training and ‘Signalmans’ course he initially served time on the battleships ‘Rodney’ and ‘Warwick “ a ‘V’ and ‘W’ destroyer during the 1938 crisis.
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After a spell at Devonport barracks at the age of nineteen he joined ‘Hardy’ and in August 1939 he sailed with the ship to the ‘Med’. The ship’s deployment there just prior to the outbreak of war has previously been described by other crew members.
When ‘Hardy’ returned to Devonport after “a mad rush back from Freetown” in West Africa, leave was granted. This was February 1940 and going to be the last he saw of his family for a considerable time. Leave to all watches completed ‘Hardy’ sailed for Scapa Flow. It was here that all the crew were given the opportunity to write their last letters home prior to going on operations in the North Sea and eventually ‘Narvik’. The ‘Hardy’ finally arriving at Narvik, Ralph recalls, “my action station was on the flagdeck and I remember the first run into the harbour. A lot of damage was done but I noticed two torpedoes missed their targets. It was exciting having a good view of the action from the flagdeck”. He goes on to say, that “later on the third run as we turned to starboard I saw three German destroyers approaching also to starboard. It was then a shell came through the flagdeck and the wheelhouse next to us. I remember thinking ‘what a hell of a mess’. I was hit in the centre of my back and arm by shrapnel. I realised I had no use of my arm. My mate Signalman ‘Ginger’ (Cuthbert) Turner had also been wounded.
He continues to describe that both of them with other wounded men were eventually put into a ‘whaler’. However, he states, “it was full of holes and sank. I was helped out by Yeoman Thatcher. I said ‘I’ve had enough’ but he replied, ‘don’t be bloody silly’. I was then unconscious for three days. I had been taken to a hospital at Ballangen and was awakened by a loud bang”. (‘Compiler Ron Cope’ – this was probably caused by the sixteen inch shells sent into Narvik harbour by ‘Warspite’ in the 2nd Battle on 13th April). It was planned that the more seriously wounded men, including Ralph, were to be taken to the ‘Lofoton Islands’ to be picked up by HMS Penelope, a cruiser, instead of the destroyers. However, previously the Penelope had hit a rock and was then needed to be towed by ‘Eskimo’. When the two ships arrived, Penelope would not take them on board and after a few discussions it was decided the wounded men should go to a hospital ashore. This was the Gravdal Hospital (Gravdal Skyehus) on the island of Vestvagey in the Lofoton.
Ralph remained a patient there for six weeks. He recalls, “I was then cared for by a family. Later, some of the lads came along and suddenly told me to get ready for transport in a local fishing boat. I spent my 20th birthday cruising up the fjord”. He then arrived at ‘Tromso’ a few days later, just in time catch the last hospital ship ‘Atlantis’ leaving for Britain. He continues, “I arrived at Liverpool about the 9th June, but because of a relapse, I needed to be stretched ashore”. However, Ralph’s journey was not quite over having then to endure a train journey to a hospital near Glasgow.
“Then two and half years of changing from hospital to hospital, including Winwick Hospital, near Warrington in Lancashire. I had another hiccup there. They used a bone from one leg to patch up the arm and when the plaster was taken off, sent me to a hospital near Bristol for recuperation. Unfortunately they left me alone on the station with a full kitbag. As I lifted the bag to put it on the rack in the train, I heard and felt a big crack. On arriving in the hospital they confirmed the arm had been broken again. So within 48 hours I was back at Warrington. They then took a bit of bone from the other leg and patched me up again”.
By July 1940, Ralph had lost touch with his shipmate ‘Ginger’ Turner. So he decided to write to him. Sadly, Ralph received a reply from Ginger’s mother to say that a week before his own discharge from hospital he had gone sailing nearby with a nurse. The boat had overturned and he had drowned.
Ralph was finally discharged from hospital in October 1942 and drafted back to Devonport barracks. He was very pleased to be drafted to a ship within a month. “I was sent to a new ‘Sloop’ HMS ‘Cygnet’ who had just been built at Birkenhead. We did our ‘acceptance trials’ in the Clyde and then sailed to Tobermoy for our final sea trials. Unfortunately, she ran aground on entering the harbour. I was then loaned to the ‘Black Swan’ for the North African ‘Landings’. After awhile I returned to ‘Cygnet’ in time for the Sicily ‘Landings’. From then I had a few months in the North Atlantic before going to HMS Mercury for the ‘Yeomans’ course. On completion, whilst waiting for transport to Canada to pick up a new ‘Algerine’ minesweeper I spent a spell on a Polish destroyer at ‘Slapton Sands’ in South Devon . This was in readiness for the ‘D Day’ Landings”.
Ralph remained in the Royal Navy till 1950 leaving as a ‘Yeoman of Signals’. However, he still had problems with his back injury. On his release to ‘Civvy Street’ initially he was manager for a Radio and Electrical Shop in Brighton. He was later transferred by the firm to Crawley. During which time he completed a correspondence course in ‘electronics’. Once attaining qualifications he secured employment at Gatwick Airport as a ‘Radio and Radar Engineer’. In between times he married Betty in 1957.
Ron Cope says
To Ralph and Betty, it took sometime before I managed to make contact with you. However, it could not have been achieved without the help of my previous contacts. So thanks goes to Leo Styles (family member of Austin McNamara in Australia – see his dedicated section on this website). Norma New (daughter of Walter Mitchell survivor ‘Hardy’). Les Smale whom mentioned Ralph in his personal account (see also Les’ dedicated section on this website)and my father Cyril Cope for keeping past newspaper cuttings and records of ‘The 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of Narvik Association’. Once more finally my thanks goes to Peter Mitchell whom through his website creates an amazing amount of ‘wellbeing’ for many. Ralph, I hope you manage to get access to the internet. Kind Regards Ron
Len Brigginshaw says
What a wonderful blow for blow of that amazing event,I can just remember the tention @ home during the time (I was about 8 yrs old).In the local church I remember you were listed as missing presumed dead,you fooled them all BROTHER,at 91yrs of age we are proud to still have you with us,hopefuly for many more years,love from your surviving brother & sister Maureen & len XX
Kristine Myatt says
Thank you for posting this. My dad Ralph Brigginshaw, said that this was being researched, and I always find these articles very interesting as I often learn more about him each time! I shall endeavour to print this article out and send it on and any others that I think would be relevant.
Ron Cope says
Dear Len, Kristine and family, I read your comments with great interest. Ralph, similar to the current conflicts was a young serving member of the Armed Forces thrown into a War without total knowledge of what was to be fully achieved. ‘You did not ask too many questions – but got on with the task’. I have now spent over eighteen months compiling accounts from many families associated with crew members of that famous ‘1st Battle of Narvik’. On finally contacting the few still here to tell the story as they witnessed it, like Ralph, as been an added bonus. I am coming to the end of my research and the first draft of my book. Obviously, Ralph’s own description of his experiences will be included. However, with Ralph’s permission, if you have any other personal recollections, these can also be added. Finally, unlike most of my contacts whom have access to E.Mail posting, it would be a bonus to be able to make direct contact with Ralph via yourselves. To Ralph I say thanks for your memories and much appreciated assistance; in making sure, as many others have said to me that, “this is a story of young sailors, seen as heroes, which needs to be told for future generations”. Ron Cope ‘roncope@btinternet.com’.
RON COPE says
Message from Ron Cope. I have spent six years following up from my father’s documents / audio tapes of his experience in the First Battle of Narvik. This led to making a significant number of contacts with other families associated with the crewmen of the other ships. A lot of these came by way of this website and kindly assisted by the owner Peter Mitchell Subsequently, my book ‘Attack at Dawn’is published in April the 75th Anniversary of both the First and Second battles. The book focuses on the crewmen of ‘Hardy’ and a following book in summer will be about the ‘Hunter’ crew. If anyone would like to purchase a copy then the ISBN 978-1-909477-97-1 from Amazon or Waterstones. Or contact me for a signed copy (roncope@btinternet.com) Thanks Ron I have to thanks Ralph for providing a ‘Foreword’ to my book.
RON COPE says
Ralph is now a well known veteran around his town Crawley where is local newspaper Crawley News did a full feature on him and his experiences. I appeared on British Forces Broadcasting Service telvision news and radio interviews, unfortunately Raplh was not able to travel but the interviewers were keen to ask questions about him as to my knowledge he is the only surviving crew member on HMS Hardy. Thanks
Ron Cope author of “Attack At Dawn” ISBN: 978-1-909477-97-1 or from your local library.
Janice Convery says
I read the above account with great interest and was led to it by Kevin Briggenshaw, Ralph’s nephew. Warm thank you to you, Ralph., and all your compatriots who courageously held the line for the rest of us.
I have a deep affinity for England and that part of the world. I spent a semester abroad in London in 1984 and felt like I had finally arrived home.
I also had the great privilege to volunteer on board RMS Queen Mary while she’s been tethered in Long Beach, CA. That experience kicked off my keen interest in ships of her kind and lead me to learn about the roles passenger ships played in the war. Queen Mary holds the record to this day of having the greatest number of souls aboard any ship, ever–16,500+!
Cheers,
Janice
Ron Cope says
Hi Janice, Ralph is one of many of the characters in my book “Attack at Dawn” and the sequel to be published in July 2017 “Doomed Destroyer”. Both mention that a number of the survivors on the sunken ships in the Royal Navy flotilla were brought back home on the hospital ship ‘Atlantis’ and troop ship ‘Franconia’ which were lines temporary requistion for the war effort. I have also had many citizens of the US purchase my book, two of whom had a father on HMS Hardy and another on HMS Hunter. Best Wishes Ron Cope [Author at Amazon Books US.]
KEVIN W BRIGGINSHAW says
Ralph is my Uncle and I have always admired his courage and bravery shown by such an unassuming man, Ralph has been the last survivor of the 1st Battle of Narvik serving in the Hardy.
Ralph is now 98 and has been taken ill.
Most of my family have served in one form or another and there is tae bond that goes beyond family and although I have not seen Ralph in over 30 years, I have always been proud to known him as my Uncle and a Hero…
Now uncle Ralph, when I was very young, my cousin Robe and I played with a huge distress flare gun, embossed with HMS Rodney, did you happen to ‘appropriate’ that?
I was about 7 years old and remember playing war with it after borrowing it from Rob, I could barely lift the thing it was so heavy.
I believe either dad (Len ex RN) or Uncle Bob (ex RN) handed it over during an arms armistice..lol
Stay strong Uncle Ralph.
Luke Brigginshaw says
I am Ralphs Great nephew, and whilst I have not seen him since I was small child (or so I am told) Ralphs story is passed down the family and I am immensely proud and honoured to have a hero in the family to look up to and admire.
I have done a lot of reading into Great uncle Ralphs life and am trying to convince grandad (len) to take me to see him.
I am the first of the Brigginshaw family to have not served, and whilst I am now too old to join, hindsight wished I had followed most of the them into the navy.
If a draft came, I would be at the front of the queue to join the royal navy and continue my forefathers legacy.
Tim Kundu says
Dear Kristine Myatt and the other members of the Brigginshaw family,
I have read about Ralph Brigginshaw’s recent situation and I hope that he is now feeling better. I am a Historian, teacher and researcher and I have joined the Romford and Hornchurch Royal Naval Association as an associate member. I have a profound interest in Britain’s role in the Norwegian Campaign (1940), and while carrying out work for a postgraduate research degree on British strategy in 1939-40 I delivered lectures on the Norwegian Campaign to undergraduate students at University College London some years ago. I am currently preparing a campaign aimed at encouraging the UK Government to honour the British veterans and their comrades who assisted Norway’s fight for freedom in April to June 1940. As a result of my research I have have had the great honour to meet in the summer of 2019 four outstanding and remarkable gentlemen who served in Norway nearly 80 years ago – two Royal Navy veterans and two British Army veterans. I contacted the Norwegian Embassy in London about my work and requested the Norwegian authorities to honour three of the British veterans with awards (one veteran had received a Norwegian medal in 2017 due to the efforts of a retired British Army officer). As a consequence the Norwegian Defence Attache in the UK awarded the Norwegian Commemorative Medal, 1939-1945 to a Royal Navy veteran on 10 July 2019 and soon this medal will be presented to two veterans as well. The Norwegian Defence Attache has asked me if I can find other Allied veterans who participated in the Norwegian Campaign and are residing in Britain, since they are also entitled to receiving the Norwegian Commemorative Medal. I would very much like Mr Ralph Brigginshaw to be awarded the Norwegian Commemorative Medal, since he is a great hero. Please could any member of the Brigginshaw family contact me about Ralph Brigginshaw. My email address is timkundu@hotmail.com and my phone number is 0775 7708 544. One of my uncles served in the British-Indian Army in the Second World War and was a member of the 14th Army that fought against the Japanese in Burma, and I have the utmost respect for the generation that fought for Britain in World War Two. The former Prime Minister, Mrs Theresa May, was absolutely right to describe the generation in Britain who served in World War II as “the finest generation.” As I mentioned before, I am now an associate member of the Romford and Hornchurch Royal Naval Association and you can contact Mr Brian Johnston, the Vice-Chairman who knows me very well. Please convey my very best wishes to Ralph Brigginshaw. Thank you.
With kind regards,
Tim Kundu.