This is the history of the third ship to bear the name HMS Cossack. Launched on 3 June 1886, she remained in service until 1905. Most of her career was spent in the Far East, visiting ports such as India, Aden, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), among others.

The records also provide an interesting insight into daily life aboard, including how the crew were fed. Rations typically included 120 lbs of beef or meat, 60 lbs of vegetables, and 162 lbs of bread per day, with slight variations depending on the number of crew members. There is no reference to the daily tot of rum, which had been issued from 1866. This consisted of 1/8 of an imperial pint of rum at 95.5 proof (54.6% ABV), usually served at midday. Petty Officers and above received their rum neat, while Seamen had theirs diluted with two parts water to make 3/8 of an imperial pint (213 ml).

Ships Company

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Russell, Ches

Rank: C.B.M.

Remarks: Committed for trial for accidental shooting of a native, 23 April 1894, at Trincomalee. Later released per magistrate’s request.

Rutt, T.

Remarks: Discharged to HMS Pomone at Bombay, Thursday 7 March 1901.

Sands, Mr.

Rank: Engineer

Remarks: Joined at 1000 at Karachi, 3 March 1898.

Seedie, Joshua

Remarks: Formerly of HMS Bonaventure. Died en route to Colombo at 1345 on 2 May 1895. Cause: pneumonia and pericarditis. Buried at sea at 1730.

Sequia (?)

Rank: Surgeon

Remarks: Joined from HMS Racoon at 1600 on 14 April at Aden. Discharged for passage to Bombay at 1600 on Sunday 17 April 1898.

Shane, James

Rank: Chief Engineer

Remarks: Onboard at Mauritius, Sunday 5 November 1893.

Simpson, J.M.

Rank: Assistant Engineer

Remarks: Joined at Devonport, 1 January 1889.

Small (?), R.

Remarks: Joined from HMS Sirius at 0800, 28 April 1898, at Aden. Discharged to hospital at Aden, 29 April 1898.

Smith, F.W.

Rank: Engineer

Remarks: Reported onboard at re-commissioning at Bombay, 22 March 1892.

Smith, F.W.

Rank: Mr. (Gunner) (T)

Remarks: Same re-commission date. One F. Smith was discharged on 22 April 1901 at Bushehr to HMS Pigeon for hospital transport.

Hidden Gems

Unsurprisingly, on the 24th December 1894 over 15 crew members were on the sick list. The day before Christmas!

1806-1816

This is the account of the first vessel named HMS Cossack, a title that would be passed on to five later ships and commemorated by the Royal Navy in the Cossack Building at HMS Raleigh.

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1854-1875

The second Cossack was originally ordered by Russia for the Black Sea Fleet in December 1852 at a cost of 290,000 silver roubles. However, when relations between Britain and Russia deteriorated, Russia sold the vessels to the Hamburg trading firm Henry Mersk & Co.

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1886-1905

This account covers the third vessel named HMS Cossack. Launched on 3 June 1886 and in service until 1905, she spent the majority of her career in the Far East, calling at India, Aden, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and other ports.

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1907-1919

The fourth HMS Cossack received the first Battle Honour for participating in operations along the Belgian coast from 17 October to 8 November 1914. This section contains copies of the original construction contract and detailed plans showing her launch, deck arrangements, and machinery.

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1938-1941

Credited with battle honours including Baltic 1855, Witu 1890, Dover Patrol 1914–1919, Narvik 1940, Norway 1940, Atlantic 1940–1941, the Bismarck Action 1941, and the Malta Convoys 1941, the HMS Cossack in service from 1938 to 1941 was a formidable presence.

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1944-1960

During Warship Week in February 1942, the town of Esher raised £1,192,211, contributing to the construction of the warship HMS Cossack. The funds were collected by the public depositing money into a rubber-type float in a pool. Remarkably, the surplus was enough to fund a submarine as well. The story continues.

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