HMS HOOD – The ‘Empire Cruise’ of the British Special Service Squadron

The presentation by Nigel Rogers will cover the entire history of HMS Hood from its construction through to its eventual loss at the Battle of the Denmark Strait in May 1941. The 1924 ‘Empire Cruise’ of HMS Hood will also be covered in detail, which included port visits to all major Australian cities, including Fremantle in February 1924, ninety-eight years ago.

Overview

“It was eighty-one years ago, that the British Battlecruiser HMS Hood and the German Battleship Bismarck fought what was, arguably, one of the most famous surface engagements of the Second World War. In an instant on the morning of May 24th, 1941, the Royal Navy lost the symbolic flagship of its fleet and 1,415 crew who were on board, with only three survivors. The Battleship Bismarck, which would have otherwise had an interesting but unremarkable history, was transformed into one of the most well-known ships of the war. In much the same way that the loss of the Hindenburg brought a spectacular end to the era of the airship as a credible flying machine, the loss of the Hood marked the end of the Battlecruiser as a credible fighting machine.” – William J Jurgens – International Naval Research Organisation

Presenter – Nigel Rogers

Nigel Rogers spent most of his career, some thirty years, with Citi/Citibank, the US Global Bank Headquartered in New York. Nigel worked in various senior positions and was based in London, Zürich, Switzerland and Edinburgh, and he travelled extensively with work throughout the world. Nigel retired and emigrated from the UK to Perth, Western Australia, following his marriage to Dr Heather Rogers in July 2012, after the loss of his first wife.

In retirement, one of Nigel’s main interests is in Naval and Military History. Nigel was elected President of the Naval Historical Society of Australia – WA Chapter, in September 2020, following the retirement of Dr George Carter (RAN Rtd).

Nigel is the `Resident Historian’ at Capital Community Radio in Perth: https://capitalcommunityradio.com/interviews.html and undertakes research to give Naval and Military History talks on the radio, as well as at meetings of various Societies and Institutions. Nigel is a Knight of Grace of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller in the WA Priory, whose main objective is to raise funds for the homeless in Perth, WA.

Nigel’s father joined the British Diplomatic Service after the War in 1946, with a first posting to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Nigel was born. Nigel then spent many years living in and visiting many countries in the world with his parents. Nigel’s interest in Naval History stems from inheriting his father’s collection of Naval History books and hearing his father’s stories about his Royal Navy Service throughout World War II, that included serving in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and on the island of Malta during the Siege in World War II.

Naval Historical Society of Australia is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: HMS HOOD – THE ‘EMPIRE CRUISE’

Time: 11:00 am. 19^th. October 2022.  Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

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