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).

Year by Year

Discover the history of the HMS Cossack from 1886 to 1905.

You can search the ‘year’ and ‘month’ to find a specific date and also ‘click’ on the date itself to reveal any images and moments from that date.

01 January 1889

Ship’s company 8 Officers; 20 Petty Officers; 60 Seamen; 16 Marines. Engine Room Establishment 55. Total 159.

First draft joined at Keyham Basin. Devonport.
Lieutenant (N) Geo.F. Glennie Navigating Officer
Lieutenant A.H.O ??????? ( Name unreadable)
Sub Lieutenant E.D. Ogilvie
Chief Engineer J. Gilbert
Engineer S. Rangling
Assistant Engineer J.M.Simpson
Surgeon A.L. Christie
Paymaster R.O. Bray
Gunner. Mr King

Ship’s company drafted from HMS Royal Adelaide, HMS Indies, HMS Cambridge and HMS …

Ship’s company 8 Officers; 20 Petty Officers; 60 Seamen; 16 Marines. Engine Room Establishment 55. Total 159.

First draft joined at Keyham Basin. Devonport.
Lieutenant (N) Geo.F. Glennie Navigating Officer
Lieutenant A.H.O ??????? ( Name unreadable)
Sub Lieutenant E.D. Ogilvie
Chief Engineer J. Gilbert
Engineer S. Rangling
Assistant Engineer J.M.Simpson
Surgeon A.L. Christie
Paymaster R.O. Bray
Gunner. Mr King

Ship’s company drafted from HMS Royal Adelaide, HMS Indies, HMS Cambridge and HMS Defiance. Marines drafted from barracks.

Ship commissioned by Commander John .M.McQuhat who came onboard at 0900.

Wind NE force 1. Barometer 30.14 inches. Temperature 44F. Employed stowing stores. Received 33lbs of beef and 168 lbs of vegetables. 250 tons 17 quarters of coal onboard. Exercised at Fire Quarters.
1800. Gave General Leave to Watch.

02 January 1889

Keyham Basin Devonport. Wind northerly calm to force 1. Cloudy. Employed drawing and storing stores. Exercised at Fire Quarters. 1800. General Leave to Watch.

03 January 1889

Wind northerly force 1. Cloudy. Barometer 30.58 inches rising to 30.68 inches. Temperature 37 to 42F. Forenoon. Employed bending sails. PM employed bending sails and receiving and storing 259 lbs of beef and 100 lbs of vegetables. 1800 Fire Quarters followed by General Leave to Watch.

04 January 1889

Wind NNE force 1. Cloudy Barometer 30.62 dropping to 30.52 inches. Temperature. 40F dropping to 39F. 0800. Employed provisioning ship. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Gave General leave to watch.

05 January 1889

Keyham Basin Devonport. Wind northerly force 1. Overcast. Barometer. 30.43 falling to 30.20 inches. Temperature 37F rising to 41F before falling to 39F at midnight. Employed storing holds. Received 345 lbs of beef and 100lbs of vegetables. Paid monthly money and issued soap and tobacco. Exercised at Fire Quarters and gave General Leave to watch.

06 January 1889

Calm and cloudy. Barometer 30.12 dropping to 30.02 inches. Temperature 34 rising to 41F. 0930 Mustered by Divisions. Sent Ship’s company to church. 1600. Mustered at Quarters.

07 January 1889

Wind SSE force 1. Cloudy. Barometer 29.99 dropping to 29.96 at Midnight. Temperature41F rising to 49F at noon. 0700. Watered ship – 7 tons. 1000. Lt. A.E.M. Grenville joined. 1500. Torpedo guns crews at drill. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Gave general leave to watch. Coal expended 5 tons.

08 January 1889

Wind south-easterly force 3 to 4 increasing to 5 at 2000. Barometer 29.81 falling to 29.51 inches. Temperature 49F rising 51F. 0330. Lit fires and received steam in both boilers. 0800. Received 211 lbs of beef and 105 lbs of vegetables. 0930. Steaming for trial in basin. Tried electric lights and torpedo tubes air reservoirs. Employed spreading and fitting awnings. Exercised Torpedo guns crews. Noon. Stopped steaming. Afternoon – as forenoon. Torpedo guns crews at drill. 1400. Read Warrant num…

Wind south-easterly force 3 to 4 increasing to 5 at 2000. Barometer 29.81 falling to 29.51 inches. Temperature 49F rising 51F. 0330. Lit fires and received steam in both boilers. 0800. Received 211 lbs of beef and 105 lbs of vegetables. 0930. Steaming for trial in basin. Tried electric lights and torpedo tubes air reservoirs. Employed spreading and fitting awnings. Exercised Torpedo guns crews. Noon. Stopped steaming. Afternoon – as forenoon. Torpedo guns crews at drill. 1400. Read Warrant number 1. 1600 Mustered at General and Fire Quarters. General leave to watch.

09 January 1889

Wind south-westerly to westerly force 6 decreasing to 4 at midnight. Cloudy and squally. Barometer 29.58 falling to 29.59 inches at noon. Temperature 51F. 0930 Exercised at General Quarters – boarders etc. PM .Employed installing awnings. Expended 5 tons of coal and 1 ton of distilled water. 1700. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Gave General leave to watch.

10 January 1889

Wind north-westerly force 5 to 6 decreasing to force 2 later. Cloudy and squally. Barometer 29.50 rising to 29.72 at 200o. Temperature 44 rising to 45 at noon before falling to 39F at midnight. 0900 Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Employed as requisite. PM. Employed storing Warrant Officer’s stores. Received 110lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 1600. Mustered at Quarters. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Gave General Leave to Watch.

11 January 1889

Wind ENE force 1. Cloudy. Barometer 29.72 falling to 29.61 inches a noon. Midnight 29.35Inches. Temperature 36F rising to 42F at noon. Used 5 tons of coal and 2 tons of distilled water. 0900. Employed cleaning and hoisting boats. 1600. Exercised at Fire quarters. Gave General leave to watch.

12 January 1889

Wind ENE to NE force 1. Cloudy. Barometer 29.30 to 29.85 inches at midnight. Temperature at 0400 41F falling to 40F at noon before rising to 42F at midnight. Used 5 tons of coal and 5 tons of water. Employed as requisite. Received 141 lbs beef and 71 lbs of vegetables. No person on the sick list. PM Cleaning ship. 1600. Exercised at Fire quarters. General leave to watch.

13 January 1889

Wind N by E to ENE force 1. Overcast and cloudy. Barometer 29.84 rising to 30.20 inches at midnight. Temperature 41F rising to 48F at noon before falling to 41F at midnight. 0800. Sent Roman Catholics to Chapel. 0930. Mustered by divisions and sent party to Dockyard Church. Used 5 tons of coal and 1 ton of water. 1600. Mustered at Quarters.

14 January 1889

Wind NE to ENE force 1 to 2. Overcast and cloudy. Barometer steady at 30.21 inches. Temperature 40F increasing to 45F at noon. Used 5 tons of coal for ship and 7 tons 12 cwt for the engines. 0400 Alongside Keyham Yard and lit fires to raise steam in all boilers. 1000. Proceeded out of harbour. 1115 Proceeded on steam trial. 1300 Returned to Plymouth sound. Carried out trials of Whitehead torpedoes with ship under way. 1515 steamed to buoy. Let fires die out. 1615. Read and exercised Fire station…

Wind NE to ENE force 1 to 2. Overcast and cloudy. Barometer steady at 30.21 inches. Temperature 40F increasing to 45F at noon. Used 5 tons of coal for ship and 7 tons 12 cwt for the engines. 0400 Alongside Keyham Yard and lit fires to raise steam in all boilers. 1000. Proceeded out of harbour. 1115 Proceeded on steam trial. 1300 Returned to Plymouth sound. Carried out trials of Whitehead torpedoes with ship under way. 1515 steamed to buoy. Let fires die out. 1615. Read and exercised Fire stations. Special leave to Watch.

15 January 1889

Plymouth Sound. Wind East to South be East force 1 increasing to 3. Overcast and cloudy. Barometer 30.20 falling to 29.47 at midnight. Temperature 41F increasing to 47F at noon.0500. Steam up in boilers. 0900. Employed getting and storing ammunition. PM as forenoon. 1400. Swing ship for adjustment of compass. Received 221 lbs of beef and 20 lbs of vegetables.

16 January 1889

Plymouth Sound. Wind SSE to S by E force 4 increasing to 6 at noon before decreasing to force 3 to 4 in the afternoon. Barometer 29.88alling to 28.82 at noon before rising to 30.08 inches at midnight. Temperature 45/46F. 0400. Lit fires and raised steam in all boilers. Steam up in cutters. 0940. Slipped from buoy and proceeded on steam trial. 1300 Employed as requisite. 1430 returned into Plymouth Sound. 1515. Stopped and secured to buoy in Barnpool. 1600 Let fires die out. Fire Quarters. 1700 s…

Plymouth Sound. Wind SSE to S by E force 4 increasing to 6 at noon before decreasing to force 3 to 4 in the afternoon. Barometer 29.88alling to 28.82 at noon before rising to 30.08 inches at midnight. Temperature 45/46F. 0400. Lit fires and raised steam in all boilers. Steam up in cutters. 0940. Slipped from buoy and proceeded on steam trial. 1300 Employed as requisite. 1430 returned into Plymouth Sound. 1515. Stopped and secured to buoy in Barnpool. 1600 Let fires die out. Fire Quarters. 1700 special leave to watch.

17 January 1889

Barnspool Plymouth. Wind Se to E by N force 1. Overcast. Barometer 30.16 rising to 30.47 inches at midnight. Temperature 44F at 0400 dropping to 41F at noon before rising to 44F at 1600. Number sick – 1. 0400. Steam up in cutter. 0700. Preparing for coaling. 0930 Read and exercised Stations – Man /dress ship. Man/dress boats. Close watertight doors. 1400 Mustered by the Open List. 1445. Commenced coaling. Received 216 lbs of beef and 80lbs of vegetables. Watered ship receiving 11 tons. 1615.…

Barnspool Plymouth. Wind Se to E by N force 1. Overcast. Barometer 30.16 rising to 30.47 inches at midnight. Temperature 44F at 0400 dropping to 41F at noon before rising to 44F at 1600. Number sick – 1. 0400. Steam up in cutter. 0700. Preparing for coaling. 0930 Read and exercised Stations – Man /dress ship. Man/dress boats. Close watertight doors. 1400 Mustered by the Open List. 1445. Commenced coaling. Received 216 lbs of beef and 80lbs of vegetables. Watered ship receiving 11 tons. 1615. Finished coaling receiving 32 tons. Gave privilege leave to watch. Mr F.G. P. Butler a naval cadet joined for passage to Boadicea.

18 January 1889

In Barnpool Plymouth. Wind NW to W by S to West force 1. Fog becoming overcast. Barometer 30.48rising to 30.50 inches at noon before falling to 30.48 inches at midnight. Temperature. 38F increasing to 51 F at noon. 0400. Steam up in cutter. 0800. Employed cleaning ship and as requisite. 1300. Employed drawing stores. 1500. Marine detachment inspected by Lt. Graham RMLI. 1600. Special leave to petty officers.

19 January 1889

Plymouth.(Bainpool) Wind NW force 1. Overcast with cloud. Barometer 30.40 rising to 30.44 inches at noon before falling. Temperature 48 F rising to 57F at noon 1000. Five sick persons onboard. Captain R. King came onboard to inspect ship. Mustered by the Open List. Exercised at General Quarters, Fire Quarters and small arms men. Exercised at manning and arming boats. 1400. Received 274 lbs of beef and 100lbs of vegetables. Expended 8 cwt of coal. Special leave to Watch.

20 January 1889

Plymouth. (Bainpool) Wind north-westerly force 1 to 2. Overcast and cloudy. Barometer 30.34 falling to 30.29 inches at noon before rising to 30.46 inches at midnight. Temperature 45F rising to 55F at noon. Six sick persons onboard.0600. Steam up in cutter. 0800. HMS Amphion sailed [HMS Amphion launched in 1846, a wooden-hulled screw frigate.] 0920. HMS Partridge sailed. [HMS Partridge (1822) was a 10-gun Cherokee-class brig-sloop launched at Plymouth 12 December, 1888; Lieutenant & Comman…

Plymouth. (Bainpool) Wind north-westerly force 1 to 2. Overcast and cloudy. Barometer 30.34 falling to 30.29 inches at noon before rising to 30.46 inches at midnight. Temperature 45F rising to 55F at noon. Six sick persons onboard.0600. Steam up in cutter. 0800. HMS Amphion sailed [HMS Amphion launched in 1846, a wooden-hulled screw frigate.] 0920. HMS Partridge sailed. [HMS Partridge (1822) was a 10-gun Cherokee-class brig-sloop launched at Plymouth 12 December, 1888; Lieutenant & Commander Alfred F. Welldon, 3 January, 1891]1030 Mustered by Divisions. 1045. Lit fires and raised steam in all boilers. 1300 Preparing for sea. 1600 slipped from buoy and proceeded under steam out of Sound. 1645 mustered at Quarters. 1730 Eddystone abeam. Shaped course to SW. 85 revolutions. Modest swell. Draught of water -Forward 13 feet 9 inches – Aft 15 feet 6 inches. Expended 11 tons 18 cwt of coal.

Hidden Gems

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

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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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