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.

When Allotted: October 1929
Pay Book Number: P/JX 138187
Rank: Acting Leading Telegraphist
Relation: Married Irene Violet of Copnor, Hampshire. Son of Joseph and Ethel Dilks. Sister Vera Bird

Remarks: (Missing Presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 24 Born 23.6.17 in Willesden. London.
Married Irene Violet of Copnor, Hampshire) Son of Joseph and Ethel Dilks.Sister Vera Bird.
Joined RN straight from school on 23 November 1923 as a Boy Seaman Class 2. Other ships – Pembroke, Cairo, Nelson, Victory, St Angelo.

Pay Book Number: C/SSX 27515
Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman
Relation: Son of Mary Dixon of Preston
When Allotted: October 1939

Remarks: Onboard at October 1939. Died 25 March 1941.
Was ashore and on PEMBROKE’s books. (Ratings Casualty Books) Age 20. Son of Mary Dixon of Preston. Buried at Preston (New Mill Lane) Cemetery, Lancashire

Pay Book Number: P/JX 223109
Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman

Remarks: (Survivor picked up by HMS Carnation and discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney) Looked after Reg Doring whilst onboard CARNATION

Pay Book Number: P/J 109361
Rank: Petty Officer
Relation: (married Muriel Alice) son of Henry Job and Elizabeth Jane Doe

Remarks: (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41)
(married Muriel Alice) son of Henry Job and Elizabeth Jane Doe

Rank: Stoker. Petty Officer
When Allotted: October 1929
Pay Book Number: P/JX 143121
Rank: Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist
Relation: Son of Edward and Florence Mary Dorricott of Manchester

Remarks: (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 23 (single) Son of Edward and Florence Mary Dorricott of Manchester

Rank: Lt.
When Allotted: September 1938?
Dove Eddie
Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman

Remarks: Joined RN 1936. 1938 – 1941. (At BISMARCK action, ALTMARK incident and Narvik) (Survivor) Ships included the HOOD. Served with US Rangers at Sword and Juno Beaches. Left the RN 1946 to become a painter and decorator. Died 3 December 2003 aged 83.

Rank: Stoker
When Allotted: January 1939

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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