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: Midshipman

Remarks: Midshipman. January 1939 to March 1939?

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 19318
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: Son of Ernest and Elizabeth Higson of Sale. Cheshire

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/SSX 19318. (Born Prestwick) (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) (single) Son of Ernest and Elizabeth Higson of Sale. Cheshire

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: P/JX 213840
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Son of Harold and Francis Alice Hill of Hull

Remarks: Ordinary Signalman. P/JX 213840. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 29 (single) Son of Harold and Francis Alice Hill of Hull

Rank: Telegraphist

Remarks: Telegraphist. October 1939 to March 1940? Leading Telegraphist at the ALTMARK incident. May have been on loan from AURORA

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Hilton Stanley
Pay Book Number: P/JX 164211
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Son of William Squires and Elsie Eliza Hilton of Durkar, Yorks.

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 164211. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 18 (single) Son of William Squires and Elsie Eliza Hilton of Durkar, Yorks. Received from Great Nephew - It appears that Stanley was one of those who was very good at all sports and had a trial for Ipswich Town FC. He was not the most organised of individual however and although supposed to be joining a battleship on the Clyde. He missed it’s sailing at Greenock. He was therefore fatefully transferred to the Cossack as a pom-pom gunner just before she made her final voyage. He was born on the 10th July 1923 so was only 18 when he was killed. There is a photo in the family of him taken just before he left Yorkshire for Scotland proudly wearing his sailor’s cap

Documents:

Pay Book Number: P/MX 60332
Rank: Electrical Artificer
Relation: Son of Thomas Frederick and Marie Hirst of Wyke Regis, Dorsetshire

Remarks: Electrical Artificer 4th Class. P/MX 60332. (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) (single) Son of Thomas Frederick and Marie Hirst of Wyke Regis, Dorsetshire

Pay Book Number: P/JX 212238
Rank: Ordinary Seaman. Able Seaman.
Relation: Wife Betty

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. Able Seaman. P/JX 212238 Joined August 1940 at Roysth. (AT BISMARCK action) Navigators Yeoman. ‘A’ gun crew with Sandy Saunders, Tubby Clarkson, Tanky Gates and Taxi Hack until two days before last convoy then transferred to ‘Y’ gun crew. Abandoned ship with Ron Poole. Survivor - picked up by Legion and discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney to Loch Ewe. Decorations: 1939/45 Star. Italy Star. Burma Star. Atlantic Star. North Africa Star. General Service Medal. Malta Siege Commemorative Medal. Came from Lymington. Other ships included EXCELLENT, TETCOTT. Left RN 1946 to resume being a bricklayer. Died 11 October 2003. Wife Betty

Documents:

Rank: Leading Seaman/Petty Officer

Remarks: Leading Seaman/Petty Officer. January 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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