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.

02 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind NNW force 1 with blue sky. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.11 at 0800 and to 30.14 at noon before falling to 30.03 at 1600 and then rising to 30.07 at 2000 before finishing at 30.11 inches at midnight. Temperarure at noon 75F. Received 126 lbs of beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 229 lbs of bread.. 0600. Divisions. Inspected arms. 0800. Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NW force 2 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind …

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind NNW force 1 with blue sky. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.11 at 0800 and to 30.14 at noon before falling to 30.03 at 1600 and then rising to 30.07 at 2000 before finishing at 30.11 inches at midnight. Temperarure at noon 75F. Received 126 lbs of beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 229 lbs of bread.. 0600. Divisions. Inspected arms. 0800. Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NW force 2 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind NNW force 2 with blue sky. Usual station leave. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 11.

03 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. Barometer 30.19 inches falling to 30.18 at 0800 and to 30.15 at noon and to 30.08 at 1600 before rising to 30.18 at 2000 and finishing at 30.13 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F.  Received 126 lbs of meat and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 216 lbs of bread. General leave to watch. 0800. Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NE force 2. Make amd mend clothes. 1600. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. 1700. Quarte…

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. Barometer 30.19 inches falling to 30.18 at 0800 and to 30.15 at noon and to 30.08 at 1600 before rising to 30.18 at 2000 and finishing at 30.13 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F.  Received 126 lbs of meat and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 216 lbs of bread. General leave to watch. 0800. Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NE force 2. Make amd mend clothes. 1600. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 11

04 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind NNW force 2 with blue sky. Barometer 30.19 inches falling 30.15 at 0800 and 30.12  at noon and then rising to 30.13 inches at 1600 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F.  Received 126 lbs of beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 170 lbs of bread. 0600. Divisions. Read Articles of War. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. Exercised at General Quarters. Noon. Wind west force 1 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind west force 2 with blue sky…

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind NNW force 2 with blue sky. Barometer 30.19 inches falling 30.15 at 0800 and 30.12  at noon and then rising to 30.13 inches at 1600 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F.  Received 126 lbs of beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 170 lbs of bread. 0600. Divisions. Read Articles of War. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. Exercised at General Quarters. Noon. Wind west force 1 with blue sky. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind west force 2 with blue sky. 1700. Quarters. Washed clothes. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 11.

05 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind east force 2 with blue sky. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.12 at 0800 and to 30.15 at noon and then falling to 30.05 at 1600 before rising to 30.09 at 2000 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F. Received 126 lbs of beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 138 lbs of bread.. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. HMS Brisk sailed. Empoyed as requisite and cleaning ship. Noon. Wind calm. Employed cleaning ship. 1600. Wind west force 2 with b…

Moored to buoy at Bombay. Wind east force 2 with blue sky. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.12 at 0800 and to 30.15 at noon and then falling to 30.05 at 1600 before rising to 30.09 at 2000 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F. Received 126 lbs of beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 138 lbs of bread.. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with blue sky. HMS Brisk sailed. Empoyed as requisite and cleaning ship. Noon. Wind calm. Employed cleaning ship. 1600. Wind west force 2 with blue sky. 1700. Quarters. Usual leave to watch. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 14.

06 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. Barometer 30.04 inches rising to 30.13 at 0800 and to 30.14 at noon and then falling to 30.02 at 1600 before rising to 30.16 at 1800 and finishing at 30.14 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. Received 85 lbs of meat and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 120 lbs of bread.. 0600. Landed Roman Catholics for chapel. 0600. Mustered by the Ledger and read charactors. Divine Service. Noon. Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. 1700. Wind west force 3 wi…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. Barometer 30.04 inches rising to 30.13 at 0800 and to 30.14 at noon and then falling to 30.02 at 1600 before rising to 30.16 at 1800 and finishing at 30.14 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. Received 85 lbs of meat and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 120 lbs of bread.. 0600. Landed Roman Catholics for chapel. 0600. Mustered by the Ledger and read charactors. Divine Service. Noon. Wind NE force 1 with blue sky. 1700. Wind west force 3 with blue sky. Quarters. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

07 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.12 inches falling to 30.11 at 0800 and to 30.10 at noon and to 30.09 at 1600 and to 30.08 at 2000 before finishing at 3030.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F. Received 120 lbs of meat and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 175 lbs of bread. 0600. Manned and armed boats. Employed as requisite. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with broken sky. Dockyard articifers making good defects. Noon. Wind west force 1 with broken cloud. Employe…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.12 inches falling to 30.11 at 0800 and to 30.10 at noon and to 30.09 at 1600 and to 30.08 at 2000 before finishing at 3030.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F. Received 120 lbs of meat and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 175 lbs of bread. 0600. Manned and armed boats. Employed as requisite. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with broken sky. Dockyard articifers making good defects. Noon. Wind west force 1 with broken cloud. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind NW force 3 with broken cloud. 1700. Quarters. Washed clothes. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

08 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind north force 1 with blue sky. Barometer 30.11 inches rising to 30.12 at noon and then falling to 30.04 at 1600 before rising to 30.13 at 2000 and finishing at 30.11 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 153 lbs of bread. 0800. Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. 0950. HMS Plessy and torpedo boats 100, 101 and 102 slipped and proceeded. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind WNW force 2 with broken cloud. Employe…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind north force 1 with blue sky. Barometer 30.11 inches rising to 30.12 at noon and then falling to 30.04 at 1600 before rising to 30.13 at 2000 and finishing at 30.11 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 153 lbs of bread. 0800. Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. 0950. HMS Plessy and torpedo boats 100, 101 and 102 slipped and proceeded. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind WNW force 2 with broken cloud. Employed as requisite.1700. Quarters. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 13.

09 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.13 at 0800 and then falling to 30.12 at noon and to 30.05 at 1600 before rising to 30.11 at 2000 and finishing at 30.07 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. Received 120 lbs of meat and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 181 lbs of bread. 0600. Divisions. Exercised Small Arms Company. Men passing for higher rating under examination. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. Employed as requisite. Noon.W…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.13 at 0800 and then falling to 30.12 at noon and to 30.05 at 1600 before rising to 30.11 at 2000 and finishing at 30.07 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. Received 120 lbs of meat and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 181 lbs of bread. 0600. Divisions. Exercised Small Arms Company. Men passing for higher rating under examination. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. Employed as requisite. Noon.Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Men passing for higher rating under examination. 1600. Wind NW force 2 with broken cloud. 1700. Quarters. General leave to watch. Coal expended 9 cwt. Number on sick list 13.

10 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.18 at 0800 and then dropping to 30.07 at 1600 before rising to 30.12 at 2000 and finishing at 3017 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 186 lbs of bread. 0600. Aired bedding. Divisions. Men passing for higher rating under examination. 0800. Wind NNE force 2 with broken cloud. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NE force 2 with broken clou…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.18 at 0800 and then dropping to 30.07 at 1600 before rising to 30.12 at 2000 and finishing at 3017 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 186 lbs of bread. 0600. Aired bedding. Divisions. Men passing for higher rating under examination. 0800. Wind NNE force 2 with broken cloud. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. Make and mend clothes. 1600. Wind NW force 4 with broken cloud. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 9 cwt. Number on sick list 14.

11 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind North force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches  rising to 30.12 at 0800 and to 30.14 at noon and then dropping to 30.09 at 1600 before rising to 30.10 at 2000 and finishing at 30.11 at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 177 lbs of bread. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. 0915 HMS Bonaventure arrived. Divisions. Exercised at General Quarters. Tested life buoys. Found correct. Employed as requisit…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind North force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches  rising to 30.12 at 0800 and to 30.14 at noon and then dropping to 30.09 at 1600 before rising to 30.10 at 2000 and finishing at 30.11 at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 177 lbs of bread. 0800. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. 0915 HMS Bonaventure arrived. Divisions. Exercised at General Quarters. Tested life buoys. Found correct. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NNW force 1 with broken cloud. Employed as requisite. Men pasing for high rating at examination. 1600. Wind NNW force 3 with broken cloud. 1700. Quarters. Washed clothes. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 11.

12 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches  falling to 30.09 at noon and to 30.06 at 1600 before rising to 30.09 at 2000 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 75F. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 118 lbs of bread. 0600. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Employed cleaning ship. 0800. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Noon. Wind NW force 2 with broken cloud. Employd as requisite. 1600. Wind NNW force 2 with brok…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches  falling to 30.09 at noon and to 30.06 at 1600 before rising to 30.09 at 2000 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 75F. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 118 lbs of bread. 0600. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Employed cleaning ship. 0800. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Noon. Wind NW force 2 with broken cloud. Employd as requisite. 1600. Wind NNW force 2 with broken cloud. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 9 cwt. Number on sick list 11.

13 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NW force 1 with blue sky and haze. Barometer 30.01 inches rising to 30.o4 at 0800 and to 30.07 at noon and to 30.10 at 1600 and the falling to 30.06 at 2000 before finishibng at 30.01 inches at midnight.Temperature at noon 78F. Received 116 lbs of meat and 58 lbs of vegetables plus186 lbs of bread. 0400. Landed Roman Catholics  for chapel.. 0600. Divisions. Divine Service. 0800. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Noon wind SW force 2 with broken cloud. 1600. Wind S…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind NW force 1 with blue sky and haze. Barometer 30.01 inches rising to 30.o4 at 0800 and to 30.07 at noon and to 30.10 at 1600 and the falling to 30.06 at 2000 before finishibng at 30.01 inches at midnight.Temperature at noon 78F. Received 116 lbs of meat and 58 lbs of vegetables plus186 lbs of bread. 0400. Landed Roman Catholics  for chapel.. 0600. Divisions. Divine Service. 0800. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Noon wind SW force 2 with broken cloud. 1600. Wind SW force 3 with bropken cloud. 1700 Quarters. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 11.

14 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.

Ships complement at 14 January 1895.

Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.01 inches rising to 30.18 at 0800 and then falling to 30.12 at noon and to 30.03 at 1600 before rising to 30.09 at 2000 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. Received 116 lbs of bread and 58 lbs of vegetables plus 178 lbs of bread. 0600. Employed cleaning magazines and shell stores and landing all ammunition. 0800. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. 0925. H…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.

Ships complement at 14 January 1895.

Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.01 inches rising to 30.18 at 0800 and then falling to 30.12 at noon and to 30.03 at 1600 before rising to 30.09 at 2000 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. Received 116 lbs of bread and 58 lbs of vegetables plus 178 lbs of bread. 0600. Employed cleaning magazines and shell stores and landing all ammunition. 0800. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. 0925. HMS Malabar sailed. Noon. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. HMS Malabar arrived and anchored. 1530. HMS Malabar sailed. Employed as in forenoon.1600. Wind NW force 2 with broken cloud. Coal expended 9 cwt. Number on sick list 11.

15 January 1895

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.16 at 0800 and then falling to 30.14 at noon and to 30.09 at 1600 ( Last reading before going into dry dock) Temperature at noon. 75F. Received 116 lbs of meat and 58 lbs of vegetables plus 133 lbs of bread .0600. Lit fires in two boilers. Employed as requisite. 0800. Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. Noon. Wind NNW force 1 with broken cloud. 1230. Slipped and proceeded to dock. Hauled into dry…

Moored to buoy at Bombay.Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.16 at 0800 and then falling to 30.14 at noon and to 30.09 at 1600 ( Last reading before going into dry dock) Temperature at noon. 75F. Received 116 lbs of meat and 58 lbs of vegetables plus 133 lbs of bread .0600. Lit fires in two boilers. Employed as requisite. 0800. Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. Noon. Wind NNW force 1 with broken cloud. 1230. Slipped and proceeded to dock. Hauled into dry dock (Indian marine large dock) Employed as requisite. Crew turned over to Sailors Home. Draught forward 10 feet 0 inches. Aft 15 feet 0 inches. Let fires die out. Coal expended 3 tons 5 cwt. Coal remaining 55 tons 1 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

16 January 1895
17 January 1895

In dry dock at Bombay. Employed refitting. Men passing for higher rating under examinations. 1400. Portugese transprt ship AFRICA arrived. Employed refitting. Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 12

18 January 1895

In dry dock at Bombay. Employed refitting. Noon. Read Warrant number 69. Number on sick list 12.

19 January 1895

In dry dock at Bombay. Employed as requisite. Men passing for higher rating under examination. 1400. Exercised Fire Quarters. Coal expended 1 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

20 January 1895

In dry dock at Bombay. 0400. Sent Roman Cathlics to chapel. 0600. Divisions. Divine Service. 2100. Usual leave. Coal expended 1 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

21 January 1895

In dry dock at Bombay. 0600. Hauled up boats. Employed refitting. Ship in dockyard hands. Coal expended 2 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

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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