During the 2nd WW the ship was adopted by Beckenham, Kent. As the sister of Lt Cmdr P Vian (Later Admiral) – Marian Vian had a school in Beckenham named after her. Reg Morrison passed the 11 plus whilst attending in 1942. A plaque marking the adoption was put up in the town hall. This building was demolished in 1991 to make way for a supermarket. The area is now under the London Borough of Bromley.

HMS Cossack F03

Ships Company

Start typing to discover family names.

Rank: Chief Petty Officer
When Allotted: January 1939
Dannreuther. H.H.
Rank: Lt.

Remarks: Appointed 8 February 1940

Rank: Leading Steward

Remarks: (Maltese) (July - October 1941) No number shown. Borne for victual charges only. No pay documents.
(Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

Pay Book Number: P/J 94056
Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 39 (married to Lilian Francis of Stamshaw, Portsmouth) Son of Louisa Mary Dauvin

Rank: Lt. (Gunnery Officer)

Remarks: Joined RN as a cadet 1926. Joined LO3 Sunday 15 September 1940 –1941 (At BISMARCK action) (Survivor. Wounded 23.10.41 & discharged to HMS Cormorant) Left RN 1946 to become Warden of Windsor Castle 1966 – 1973. Became Rear Admiral CB, CVO. Ships included BRITANNIA, BARHAM, DANAE, DESPATCH, DUNCA, EXCELLENT, REPULDSE, DRAKE, INDFATIGABLE, TRIUMPH, PELICAN. Died 14 January 2003 aged 90.

Rank: Ordinary Signalman
When Allotted: October 1929
Rank: Signalman

Remarks: Transferred from Afridi. At Altmark incident

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 36103
Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Joined RN 1940 Joined LO3 January 1941. At BISMARK battle (Survivor – in the water for four hours before being picked up by LEGION -discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney landing at Loch Ewe). Escorted Convoy PQ17. Other ships EMERALD, TALLYBONT, BATTLEAXE, MANCHESTER – after sinking during Operation Pedestal ended up in Laghouat a French prisoner of War camp., Left RN 1953 to become carpenter/joiner. Lived in Ledbury. Died 28 April 2016. Daughter - Sandie Rogers

Rank: Lieutenant RNR

Remarks: Believed to have served on the Cossack during the Norwegian operations and may
have been part of the boarding party on the Altmark He was latter Killed (24/01/1942) on H.M.S. Grebe,

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 15190
Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 26 (married to Dilys) Son of William Morgan and Janet Mary of Reading, Berkshire

Hidden Gems

The HMS Cossack 1938-1941 was accepted on 10 June 1938 and dented, whilst coming alongside the jetty in Portsmouth on 12 June 1938.

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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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