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.

18 September 1889

In dry dock at Mauritius. Wind SE force 2 with occasional showers. Barometer 30.37 inches rising to 20.40 at noon before falling to 30.38 at 1600 and finishing at 30.39 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0530. Received 90 lbs of fresh beef and 45 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Employed painting masts and as requisite. PM as forenoon. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

19 September 1889

In dry dock at Mauritius. Wind SE force 3 to 4 with squally showers. Barometer 30.40 inches falling to 30.22 at 1600 before finishing at 30.40 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 71F. O430. Steam up in cutter. 0900. Employed painting masts and as requisite. Wind force 2 with passing showers. PM. As in forenoon. Cal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

20 September 1889

Moored at Mauritius. Wind SSE force 3 with passing showers. Barometer 30.35 inches rising to 30.37 at noon before falling to 30.30 at 1600 and finishing at 30.37 at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0500. Received 100 lbs of fresh beef and 50 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Employed cleaning shell rooms and as requisite. 1400. Hauled out of dock and transferred ship to mooring in harbour. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

21 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 3 to 4 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.34 inches then falling to 30.30 at 1600. Before finishing at 30.29 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0530. Received 100 lbs of beef and 50 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Cleaning ship.

PM cleaning ship. 1400. Gave General leave to port watch. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

22 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.34 inches rising to 30.35 at noon before falling to 30.33 at 1600 and finishing at 30.39 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 75F. 0400. Steam up in cutter,. 0500. Received 100 lbs of fresh beef and 50 lbs of vegetables. 0740. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel. 1030. Landed Church Party and Wesleyans. PM. Special leave to watch. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 5 cwt. None remaining. Number on sick list 5.

23 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.37 inches falling to 30.32 at noon then to 30.22 at 200 before finishing at 30.23 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0530. Received 100 lbs of fresh beef and 50 lbs of vegetables. 0930. Commenced coaling. 1000. Employed cleaning magazine and as requisite. Noon. Lit fires in one boiler for distilling. PM As forenoon. Coal expended 1 ton 7 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

24 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.28 inches rising to 30.29 at noon before falling to 30.27 at 1600 and finishing at 30.30 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 72F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0500. Received 100 lbs of fresh beef and 50 lbs of vegetables. 0800. Coaling ship. 0900. Employed as requisite. 1600 Finished coaling. Received 310 tons. 1600. Cleaning ship. Coal expended 2 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

25 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.27 inches falling to 30.24 at 1600 and finishing at 30.31 inches at midnight. Temperature \t noon 77F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0500. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Cleaning ship and as requisite. 1100. Let fires die out. 1300. Employed getting in and storing ammunition and painting ship.

Coal expended 1 ton 6 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

26 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.29 inches falling to 30.27 at 1600 and finishing at 30.32 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F. 0400. Steam up in cutter. 0430. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Employed cleaning ship Quick fire magazine and as requisite. PM as in forenoon and painting ship. Coal expended 5 cwt, Number on sick list 7.

27 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.31inches falling to 30.28 at noon and finishing at 30.32 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. 0400. Steam up in cutter. 0430. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 5 60 lbs of vegetables. 0800. Employed painting ship and as requisite. 1000. Party painting ships boats. 1330. Painting ships boats. Wind NW force 1. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 8.

28 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.29 inches falling to 30.26 at 1600 before finishing at 30.30 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77 F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0500. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Employed painting ship and boats. Noon. Wind SSE force 2. PM As in forenoon. 1700. Lost overboard by accident one boat hook and stave. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

29 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind ESE force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.29 inches rising to 30.32 at noon before falling to 30.30 at 1600 and finishing at 30.32 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 76F. 0430. Steam up in cuter. 0430. Received 125 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0730. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel. 0930. Mustered by Divisions. Read Articles of War. 1030. Sent Church party and Wesleyans ashore to church. Noon. Wind ESE force 3. 1300. Privilege leave to watch.…

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind ESE force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.29 inches rising to 30.32 at noon before falling to 30.30 at 1600 and finishing at 30.32 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 76F. 0430. Steam up in cuter. 0430. Received 125 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0730. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel. 0930. Mustered by Divisions. Read Articles of War. 1030. Sent Church party and Wesleyans ashore to church. Noon. Wind ESE force 3. 1300. Privilege leave to watch. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

30 September 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind East force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.30 inches falling to 30.26 with squalls at 1600 and finishing at 30.22 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 78F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. 0500. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Employed painting ship. 1300. Paid monthly money to Ship’s company. 1400. Painting ship. Coal expended 6cwt. Number on sick list 7.

01 October 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind ESE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.33 inches falling to 30.30 at 16000 with squalls and hail before finishing at 30.32 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0730. Gave General Leave Port Watch – 24 hours. 0900. Painting ship and as requisite. PM painting ship. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

02 October 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind ESE force 2 to 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.30 inches rising to 30.32 at 0800 before falling to 30.30 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.36 inches. Temperature at noon. 78F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0700. Gave General leave to starboard watch – 24 hours. 0900. Painting ship and as requisite. PM. As in forenoon. Wind ESE force 1. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 8.

03 October 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind calm force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.32 inches rising to 30.34 at 0800 before falling to 30.30 at 1600 and finishing at 30.36 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 77F. 0430. Steam up in cutter received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Employed bending fore and aft sails and as requisite. PM. As in forenoon. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

04 October 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer30.34 inches rising to 30.36 inches at noon before falling to 30.33 with wind ESE and squalls before rising to 30.40 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 76F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. Received 240 lbs of fresh beef and 115 lbs of vegetables. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. 100. Employed as requisite. Noon Wind SE force 3 to 5 with squalls. 1300. Employed launching boats and as requisite. 1…

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer30.34 inches rising to 30.36 inches at noon before falling to 30.33 with wind ESE and squalls before rising to 30.40 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 76F. 0430. Steam up in cutter. Received 240 lbs of fresh beef and 115 lbs of vegetables. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. 100. Employed as requisite. Noon Wind SE force 3 to 5 with squalls. 1300. Employed launching boats and as requisite. 1630. Read Warrant number 21. 1800. Received fresh tank water at Mauritius. Fresh water for Ships company 28 tons. Fresh water for boilers 132 tons. Coal expended 2 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

05 October 1889

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.36 inches rising to 30.41 at noon before falling to 30.34 at 1600 and finishing at 30.40 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. Draught of water forward 14 feet 6 inches. Aft 15 feet 10 inches. 0300 lit fires and raised steam in 3 boilers. 0800. Exercised at Fire Quarters. 0900. Slipped moorings and proceeded out of harbour. 0930. Stopped and discharged pilot. 0935. Proceeded at 95 revolutions – 5 knots. Shaped …

Moored in Mauritius Harbour. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.36 inches rising to 30.41 at noon before falling to 30.34 at 1600 and finishing at 30.40 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. Draught of water forward 14 feet 6 inches. Aft 15 feet 10 inches. 0300 lit fires and raised steam in 3 boilers. 0800. Exercised at Fire Quarters. 0900. Slipped moorings and proceeded out of harbour. 0930. Stopped and discharged pilot. 0935. Proceeded at 95 revolutions – 5 knots. Shaped course to NW by N ½ N. Employed cleaning ship. Position at noon, 19.49S 57.8E Wind SE force 3. PM Cleaning ship. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 19 tons 8 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

06 October 1889

Mauritius to Zanzibar. Course NW by N ½ N at 10.8 knots. Wind SE force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.33 inches rising to 30.37 at 0800 before falling to 30.28 at 1600 and finishing at 30.32 at midnight. 0930. Mustered by Divisions. 1030. Performed Divine Service. Position at noon. 16.49 S. 53.48E. 1255. Altered course to NNW at 11 knots. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 30 tons 15 cwt. Number on sick list 14.

07 October 1889

Mauritius to Zanzibar. Course NNW at 11.2 knots. Wind SE force 3 with broken cloud and a moderate sea. Barometer 30.29 inches falling to 30.28 at noon and then to 30.23 at 1600 before finishing at 30.28 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. 0915. Wind SSE. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Man and arm ships boats etc. 100. Employed as requisite. Position at noon 13.14 S 50.58 E. 1230. Altered course to NW by W. 1400. Ordinary seaman of watch at signal …

Mauritius to Zanzibar. Course NNW at 11.2 knots. Wind SE force 3 with broken cloud and a moderate sea. Barometer 30.29 inches falling to 30.28 at noon and then to 30.23 at 1600 before finishing at 30.28 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. 0915. Wind SSE. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Man and arm ships boats etc. 100. Employed as requisite. Position at noon 13.14 S 50.58 E. 1230. Altered course to NW by W. 1400. Ordinary seaman of watch at signal instruction. Employed as requisite. 1500. Observed land on port bow. Wind SW force 4. 1700. Altered course to NNW. Mustered at quarters. Exercised Fire Quarters. 1800. Lost overboard by accident one hand saw. 2230. Altered course to NW by W. Wind SSE force 2. 2300. Altered course to W ½ N. Midnight. Reduced to 65 revolutions. Coal expended 28 tons 13 cwt. Number on sick list 15.

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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