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.

17 August 1901

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.35 inches falling to 3029 at 08000 and then rising to 30.32 at noon and to 30l30 at 1600 before finishing at 30.34 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 75F. 0200. Received 110 lb of beef and 55 lbs of vegetables plus500 lbs of bread. 0730. Exercised Fire Quarters. 0800. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Cleaning ship. Tested life buoys. Noon wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. 1300. Employed as requisite. 1600. W…

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.35 inches falling to 3029 at 08000 and then rising to 30.32 at noon and to 30l30 at 1600 before finishing at 30.34 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 75F. 0200. Received 110 lb of beef and 55 lbs of vegetables plus500 lbs of bread. 0730. Exercised Fire Quarters. 0800. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Cleaning ship. Tested life buoys. Noon wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. 1300. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind Se force 2 with broken cloud. . 1715. Quarters. 2000. Wind SE force 1.  Distilling. Coal expended 3 tons 12 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

18 August 1901

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer. 30.32 inches rising to 30.33 at 0800 and then falling to 30.30 at noon and to 30.26 inches at 1600 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. 0200. Received 100 lbs of beef and 55 lbs of vegetables (No bread). 0715. Landed Roman Catholics. 0800. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. 0930. Roman Catholics returned. 1030. Sent Church Party to HMS Highflyer. 1130. Church Party returned. Noon Wind SE force 2 wi…

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer. 30.32 inches rising to 30.33 at 0800 and then falling to 30.30 at noon and to 30.26 inches at 1600 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. 0200. Received 100 lbs of beef and 55 lbs of vegetables (No bread). 0715. Landed Roman Catholics. 0800. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. 0930. Roman Catholics returned. 1030. Sent Church Party to HMS Highflyer. 1130. Church Party returned. Noon Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. 1600. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Quarters. Prepared for coaling.  Coal expended 2 tons 5 cwt. Number on sick list 4

21 August 1901

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 30 .24 at 0800 and to 30.25 at noon before falling to 30.23 a 1600 and to 30.32 inches where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. 0200. Received 110 lbs of beef and 55 lbs of vegetables plus 250 lbs of bread. . 0800. Wind calm with broken sky. 0915. Divisions and prayers. Landed Small Arms Companies and Marines. 1100. Small Arms Companies and Marines returned. Employed as requisite. Noon. …

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 30 .24 at 0800 and to 30.25 at noon before falling to 30.23 a 1600 and to 30.32 inches where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. 0200. Received 110 lbs of beef and 55 lbs of vegetables plus 250 lbs of bread. . 0800. Wind calm with broken sky. 0915. Divisions and prayers. Landed Small Arms Companies and Marines. 1100. Small Arms Companies and Marines returned. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind west force 1 with broken cloud. 1300. Training class at instruction. Remainder employed as requisite. 1555. Exercised all boats crews at pulling. General leave to watch. Read Warrant number 42. 1600. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. 1900. Landed patrol. 2000. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. 2300. Patrol returned. Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

22 August 1901

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.34 inches rising to 30.41 at 0800 and to 30.45 at noon and to 30.50 at 2000 before finishing at 30.53 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 75F.  0200. Received 110 lbs of beef and 62 lbs of vegetables plus 220 lbs of bread. . 0800. Wind SE force 4 with broken cloud and squalls. 0915. Divisions and prayers. 0930. Landed Training class for drill. Remainder employed as requisite. 1100. Training class returned. Noon. Wind…

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.34 inches rising to 30.41 at 0800 and to 30.45 at noon and to 30.50 at 2000 before finishing at 30.53 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 75F.  0200. Received 110 lbs of beef and 62 lbs of vegetables plus 220 lbs of bread. . 0800. Wind SE force 4 with broken cloud and squalls. 0915. Divisions and prayers. 0930. Landed Training class for drill. Remainder employed as requisite. 1100. Training class returned. Noon. Wind SE force 3 with broken cloud and squalls. 1300. Make and mend clothes. 1600. Wind SE force 3 to 5 with broken cloud and squalls. 1615. Quarters. Preparing for sea. Joined – (Difficult to read handwriting) 4 Seamen, 1, EQ and prisoner. General leave to watch. 1900. Landed patrol. 2000. Wind SE force 3 to 5 with broke cloud and squalls. 2330. Patrol returned. Coal expended 17 cwt.  Number on sick list 2.

23 August 1901

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind SE force 3 to 6 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer 30.50 inches rising to 50.52 at noon before finishing at 30.47 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 70F. 0200. Received 220 lbs of beef and 110 lbs of vegetables plus 750 lbs of bread. 0200. Lit fires in number 1 and 2 boilers. 0630. Shifted berth for proceeding out of harbour.  Draught 14 feet 8 inches forward.  15 feet 11 inches aft. 0800. Wind south force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. 0…

Moored at Port Louis, Mauritius. Wind SE force 3 to 6 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer 30.50 inches rising to 50.52 at noon before finishing at 30.47 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 70F. 0200. Received 220 lbs of beef and 110 lbs of vegetables plus 750 lbs of bread. 0200. Lit fires in number 1 and 2 boilers. 0630. Shifted berth for proceeding out of harbour.  Draught 14 feet 8 inches forward.  15 feet 11 inches aft. 0800. Wind south force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. 0800. Employed as requisite. Lost by fouling screw Barrels 4 gallon fitted P.299. Creeper boat P 712. 1145. Weighed and proceeded as requisite. Noon. Wind SE force 3 with broken cloud. Shaped to N15E at 65 revolutions. 1410. Altered course to N44E. Employed as requisite. Numbers one and 2 of 6 inch guns at Morris tube practice. 1600. Wind SSE force 4 to 5 with broken cloud ad squalls.1615. Quarters. 2000. Wind S by E force 5 to 6 Cloudy with squalls and passing rain. 2200. Exercised Close watertight doors and sea boats crews. Coal expended 13 tons 10 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

24 August 1901

At sea. Course N44E at 5.2 knots (62 revolutions). Port Louis, Mauritius to Coco Island. Wind SSE force 4 to 6 with broken cloud, passing rain and squalls. Barometer 30.45 inches falling to 30.40 at noon and to 30.36 at 1600 and to 30.35 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 72F. 0800. Wind ESE force 5 to 7 with broken cloud; passing rain and squalls. Cleaning ship. Tested life buoys. Noon. Position 18.13S 5833E. Course N44E at 5.5 knots. Coco island N38E at 95 miles.1230. Altered course to N5…

At sea. Course N44E at 5.2 knots (62 revolutions). Port Louis, Mauritius to Coco Island. Wind SSE force 4 to 6 with broken cloud, passing rain and squalls. Barometer 30.45 inches falling to 30.40 at noon and to 30.36 at 1600 and to 30.35 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 72F. 0800. Wind ESE force 5 to 7 with broken cloud; passing rain and squalls. Cleaning ship. Tested life buoys. Noon. Position 18.13S 5833E. Course N44E at 5.5 knots. Coco island N38E at 95 miles.1230. Altered course to N54E. Eased to 48 revolutions. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind E by S force 5 to 6 with broken cloud; passing rain and squalls. 2000. Wind ESE force 2 to 5 with broken cloud; passing rain and squalls. 2200. Exercised seaboats crews and Close watertight doors. Coal expended 16 tons 8 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

25 August 1901

(Sunday)  At sea. Course N54E at 3.7 knots. Port Louis to Coco Island. Wind E by S force 5 to 7 with overcast sky; passing rain and squalls. Barometer 30.31 inches rising to 30.39 at 0800 and then falling to 30.37 at noon and to 30.25 at 1600 before rising to 30.31 inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F. 0050. Eased to 40 revolutions. 0115. Increased to 50 revolutions. 0400. Increased to 65 revolutions. 0700. Increased to 70 revolutions. 0800. Wind E by S force 5 …

(Sunday)  At sea. Course N54E at 3.7 knots. Port Louis to Coco Island. Wind E by S force 5 to 7 with overcast sky; passing rain and squalls. Barometer 30.31 inches rising to 30.39 at 0800 and then falling to 30.37 at noon and to 30.25 at 1600 before rising to 30.31 inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F. 0050. Eased to 40 revolutions. 0115. Increased to 50 revolutions. 0400. Increased to 65 revolutions. 0700. Increased to 70 revolutions. 0800. Wind E by S force 5 to 7 with broken cloud; passing rain and squalls. 0815. Altered course to N65E. Employed as requisite.  Noon. Position 17.6S 59.16E. Course N65E at 6.1 knots. Coco Island N45E at 18 miles. 1220. Altered course to N55E. 1400 Altered course as requisite for Coco Island. 1410. Sighted Coco Island. Course as requisite for anchorage. 1600. Wind E by S force 3 to 4 with broken cloud and passing rain. 1620. Eased to 50 revolutions. 1630. Stopped. Came to in in 12 ½ fathoms off Poraundon Rocks. Veered to 8 shackles. Banked fires. 1830. Burnt searchlight.1930. Finished search light. 200. Wind SE 3 to 5 with broken cloud; passing rain and squalls. Coal expended 12 ton 6 cwt. “16 tons 7 cwt remaining.  Number on sick list 2.

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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