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

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Rank: Stoker

Remarks: Stoker Petty Officer. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Chief ERA

Remarks: Chief ERA January 1939 – March 1940?

Pay Book Number: E/LX 22505
Rank: Leading Steward

Remarks: Maltese. Leading Steward E/LX 22505. (Joined July 1938 as Assistant Steward.) Lost overboard in the Atlantic 12/13 November 1940. Name appears on the Devonport Memorial

Pay Book Number: P/JX 274480
Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 274480. Born 1920 in Ibrox Glasgow. Joined at Greenock early in 1941. (Survivor picked up by Legion and discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney) Was on secondary armament amidships when torpedoed. Was resting behind the gun in a corner formed by two ammunition boxes. He joined about 20 others on a Carley float which they eventually abandoned to swim to Legion. Landed at the Azores. Convalesced in hospital at Newton Mearns where he met Marjory Somerville who nursed him through his trauma which left him almost speechless and incapable of coherent thought Other ships include COLLINGWOOD, JACKDAW (FA) and VESTAL. Invalided out in 1944 and studied industrial law. Became Secretary of Scottish Engineers Association. Was awarded the OBE in 1983. Youngest child of John and Christina Armstrong. Married Marjory Somerville who died in 1990. Died 2 February 2004.

Rank: Petty Officer Steward

Remarks: Petty Officer Steward (Maltese) L. 12336. War and Victory Medal, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Naval General Service Medal. Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 12 April 1940 for looking after released prisoners from Altmark), (Joined L03 9 June1938 and left April 1940 but borne on books until 24 July 1941)

Ashurst Eric Victor
Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Gallery:

Aspey William John Ralph Bill
Pay Book Number: P/MX45521
Rank: Petty Officer Cook

Remarks: Petty Officer Cook (to Dec 1940), then Chief Petty Officer Cook. P/MX45521. Joined L03 8 June 1938, leaving 3 February 1941. Awarded Distinguished Service Medal for service during the 2nd Battle of Narvik (London Gazette 28 June 1940). Enlisted RN 1926, demobbed 1947.
Ships include EFFINGHAM,VICTORY,VERNON, BOSCAWEN, DEPTFORD, LUPIN, NEPTUNE, CYCLOPS, COSSACK, St ANGELO, MAIDSTONE, COCHRANE, DISPATCH, EMPIRE BATTLEAXE, GOLDEN HIND, VENERABLE, GOULD, MONARA, LANKA, HORNET.
Born Gosport 3 June 1908. Died 2005, aged 97.

Gallery:

Atherton James
Pay Book Number: P/KX 75862
Rank: Chief Stoker

Remarks: Chief Stoker. P/KX 75862 (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Born 4 April 1905. Age 36 of 4 Milton Street, Poolstock. (Married to Margaret of Wigan. Lancashire) Son of Henry and Margaret Atherton (nee Whalley). Attended St James’s C of E School and King Street Baptist church. He was employed on the railway as a Goods porter until enlisted in the RN on 9 March 1926 for 16 years. His father was killed whilst working on track maintenance. Ships include. VICTORY, EGMONT I, WITCH, DOLPHIN, M3 (submarine), ROVER, L69, EFFINGHAM, CUNACEA, TAMER II, DAINTY VIVACIOUS, COSSACK, DRAKE, COCHRANE, TYNE

Gallery:

Pay Book Number: P/JX 129275
Rank: Petty Officer

Remarks: Petty Officer P/JX 129275 DSM
(2nd person aboard the Altmark) (London Gazette 12 April 1940)
Onboard January 1939 - March 1940? Other ships include GOSLING, ROYAL ARTHUR.

Remarks: ERA. October 1939 to March 1940?

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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