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.

06 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 4 lbs of meat and 2 lbs of vegetables plus 6 lbs of bread. Watch fire stations.

07 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 4 lbs of meat and 2 lbs of vegetables plus 6 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as required. 1600. Watch Fire Stations. 1700. Working party Retired.  Number on sick list 7

08 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 4 lbs of meat and 2 lbs of vegetables plus 6 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. 1600. Fire stations. 1700. Working party retired. Number on sick list 6.

09 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 4 lbs of meat and 2 lbs of vegetables plus 6 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. Greased rigging screws.1600. Fire stations. 1700. Working party retired. Number on sick list 6

10 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 6 lbs of meat and 3 lbs of vegetables plus 7 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. 1600. Fire stations. 1700. Working party retired. Number on sick list 6.

11 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 4 lbs of meat and 2 lbs of vegetables plus 7 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. 1600. Fire stations. 1700. Working party retired. Number on sick list 5.

12 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 6 lbs of meat and 3 lbs of vegetables plus 7 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. 1200. Fire stations. Working party retired. Coal remaining 69 tons. Number on sick list 5.

13 June 1897

(Sunday) In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 4 lbs of meat and 2 lbs of vegetables plus 7 lbs of bread. Number on sick list 5.

14 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 6 lbs of meat and 3 lbs of vegetables plus 7 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. 1600. Fire stations. 1700. Working party retired. Number on sick list 5.

15 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 4 lbs of meat and 2 lbs of vegetables plus 7 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. 1600. Fire stations. 1700. Working party retired. Number on sick list 6

16 June 1897

In Dry Dock. Ship’s Company billeted in Sailor’s Home. Received 6 lbs of meat and 3 lbs of vegetables plus 7 lbs of bread. 0800. Working party arrives. Employed as requisite. 1440. Ships Company re-join ship. Special Leave to watch. Quarters. On steaming covers. Fire Stations. Hands to bathe. Coal remaining 68 tons 15 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

17 June 1897

In dry dock at Bombay. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 330 lbs of bread. 0920. Divisions and prayers. 0940. Floated ship. Employed as requisite. Draught 12 feet 3 inches forward. 13 feet 6 inches aft. Noon. Proceeded out of dock. Engines as requisite. Picked up mooring in stream. Received 24 cases for passage to Lapiring(?) wind southerly force 3 to 5 with squalls. Number on sick list 6

18 June 1897

At moorings. Wind NNW force 3 to 5 overcast with squalls becoming SSW force 2 to3 later. Barometer 29.71inches rising 29.80 before finishing at 29.78 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 79F. Received 115 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 132 lbs of bread. 0715. Coal lighters came alongside. 0730. Commenced coaling. Employed as requisite. 1435. Finished coaling. Received 200 tones. Employed cleaning ship. Special leave to starboard watch. Number on sick list 4

19 June 1897

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind WSW force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Increasing to force 3 to 4 from SW at noon before returning to WSW force 2 to 3 at midnight. Barometer 29.74 inches rising to 29.79 before ending at 29.76 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F. Received 108 lbs of fresh beef and 50 lbs of vegetables plus 133 lbs of bread. . Employed cleaning ship. PM. Employed launching boats. General leave to port watch. Quarters. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list…

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind WSW force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Increasing to force 3 to 4 from SW at noon before returning to WSW force 2 to 3 at midnight. Barometer 29.74 inches rising to 29.79 before ending at 29.76 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F. Received 108 lbs of fresh beef and 50 lbs of vegetables plus 133 lbs of bread. . Employed cleaning ship. PM. Employed launching boats. General leave to port watch. Quarters. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

20 June 1897

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind WSW force 3 with broken cloud later becoming SW force 2 to 4. Barometer 29.74 inches rising to 29.79 at noon before finishing at 29.73 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F. Received 216 lbs of bread. Sent church parties. Mustered by the Open List. Performed Divine Service. 1045. Dressed ship rainbow fashion. Gave leave to starboard watch. Sunset. Undressed ship. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

21 June 1897

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind southerly force 3to 5 moderating to 2 to 3 later. Broken cloud with passing showers becoming overcast later. Barometer 29.71 inches rising to 29.77 at noon and finishing at 29.72 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 86F. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 218 lbs of bread. Employed as requisite. Issued slops to Ships Company. Gave General leave to port watch. Make and mend clothes. Coal expended not given.  Number on sick list 4.

22 June 1897

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind WSW force 3 to 5 with overcast sky and squalls later becoming SW force 2 to 4.  Barometer 29.65 inches rising to 29.74 at noon before finishing at 29.75 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 84F.  Received 118 lbs of fresh beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 211 lbs of bread. 0800. Dressed ship rainbow fashion in honour of completing 60 years on the throne of Queen and Empress.  Make and mend clothes. 1200 Fired salute of 60 guns. Gave General leave to s…

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind WSW force 3 to 5 with overcast sky and squalls later becoming SW force 2 to 4.  Barometer 29.65 inches rising to 29.74 at noon before finishing at 29.75 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 84F.  Received 118 lbs of fresh beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 211 lbs of bread. 0800. Dressed ship rainbow fashion in honour of completing 60 years on the throne of Queen and Empress.  Make and mend clothes. 1200 Fired salute of 60 guns. Gave General leave to starboard watch.  Sunset. Undressed ship. . Coal expended not given. Number on sick list 6.

23 June 1897

At Moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind SW force 2 to 4 with overcast sky and fog.  Showers later. Barometer 29.73 inches rising to 29.81 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F. Received 118 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 200 lbs of bread. Employed as requisite. Quarters. Watch man and Arm Ship. Coal expended not given. Number on sick list 6.

24 June 1897

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind SW force 2 to 5with broken cloud, squalls and passing showers. Barometer 29.80 inches rising to 29.84 before finishing at 29.84 inches at midnight.  Temperature at noon 85F.  Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 183 lbs of bread.

Drawing stores. Employed as requisite. Carried out half yearly missing and slow creeping (?) Difficult to read handwriting.  Bent sails.  Special leave to starboard watch. Coal expended not shown. Number …

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind SW force 2 to 5with broken cloud, squalls and passing showers. Barometer 29.80 inches rising to 29.84 before finishing at 29.84 inches at midnight.  Temperature at noon 85F.  Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 183 lbs of bread.

Drawing stores. Employed as requisite. Carried out half yearly missing and slow creeping (?) Difficult to read handwriting.  Bent sails.  Special leave to starboard watch. Coal expended not shown. Number on sick list 6.

25 June 1897

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind SW force 2 to 5 with broken cloud squalls and passing showers. Barometer 29.78 inches rising to 29.87 at 2000 and finishing at 29.86 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F.  0600. HMS (?) arrived. Hand writing difficult to read. 0700. Received 118 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 225 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. 0900. Exercised General Quarters.1100. Preparing for sea. 1500. Employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Special le…

At moorings in Bombay Harbour.  Wind SW force 2 to 5 with broken cloud squalls and passing showers. Barometer 29.78 inches rising to 29.87 at 2000 and finishing at 29.86 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F.  0600. HMS (?) arrived. Hand writing difficult to read. 0700. Received 118 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 225 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. 0900. Exercised General Quarters.1100. Preparing for sea. 1500. Employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Special leave to port watch.  Coal expended not given. Number on sick list 6.

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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