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: Leading Seaman
When Allotted: October 1939
Rank: Lt.

Remarks: Lt. 18.1.40 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: JX128142
Rank: Able Seaman/ Leading Seaman / TGM - Torpedo Gunners mate

Remarks: Date of birth 14 March 1911. Alverstoke Hants. Educated at Greenwich RH School. Joined RN for 12 years on 14 March 1929 at Ganges. Onboard Cossack 14 February 1938 – 29 February 1940 as an Able Seaman. 1 March 1940 – 31 March 1941 as a Leading Seaman. 1st April 1941 – 26 August 1941- Torpedo Gunners Mate. Left the RN 1 June 1949.

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: P/K 61629
Rank: Chief Stoker
Relation: (married to Jane Walker of Piershill, Edinburgh) Son of Alexander Maurice and Mary Jane Gammack

Remarks: Chief Stoker. Stoker Petty Officer P/K 61629. (Born Aberdeen) (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 37 (married to Jane Walker of Piershill, Edinburgh) Son of Alexander Maurice and Mary Jane Gammack

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: P/J 77381
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: (married to Ethel Dinah of Sway, Hampshire) Son of Samuel and Lottie Gates

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/J 77381. Onboard at October 1939 Ships Butcher. .‘A’ gun crew (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) (married to Ethel Dinah of Sway, Hampshire) Son of Samuel and Lottie Gates

Rank: Leading Steward

Remarks: Leading Steward. (Maltese) (29 July 1939 to July 1941) (Shown on Victualling list from January 1939)

Rank: Acting Leading Signalman

Remarks: Acting Leading Signalman. January 1939 to March 1940? Acting Yeoman (Transferred to Afridi before Narvik)

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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