RN:
HMS Hood's company, New Years Day 1939. Only 3 of her company would survive her encounter with Bismarck.
"I remember seeing a documentary that had an interview with one of the survivors of Hood, Ted Briggs, telling the story of how he survived. He was a rating working on the bridge, and was at his post when the ship was hit and the forward magazine exploded. As the ship sank, the bow began rapidly rising, making it harder and harder for him to get across deck and out of the door.
He was beaten there by a young officer, who, instead of heading out first and saving himself, politely stood aside with an “after you” gesture, allowing Briggs to get out. He turned to see if he could then help the young officer out in turn. But at that point the ship had gone almost vertical with the ship rapidly sinking beneath him, and the young officer was gone. He said that one moment, more than anything haunted him, how that officer, not much older than he was had sacrificed his chance at surviving the sinking with a moment of chivalry in the midst of a catastrophe."
That officer was Commander John Warrand, Hood's navigator and the Squadron Navigation Officer of the Battle Cruiser Squadron. He was 37 to Briggs' 18.
Admiral Holland was sitting in his chair, with Captain Kerr by his side, and neither of them made any effort to abandon the ship.