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.

Pay Book Number: P/KX 79723
Rank: Stoker 1st Class
Relation: Son of Mr and Mrs R. Illingworth of Gateshead. Co Durham

Remarks: Stoker 1st Class. P/KX 79723. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 30 (single) Son of Mr and Mrs R. Illingworth of Gateshead. Co Durham

Rank: Chief Stoker

Remarks: Chief Stoker. January 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Lt. A/S Officer
Relation: (married to Stella Elizabeth of Kingston, Somerset) Son of Gilbert J. and Florence A Isaac

Remarks: Lt. A/S Officer. Appointed to Cossack 9 June 1941. (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 31 (married to Stella Elizabeth of Kingston, Somerset) Son of Gilbert J. and Florence A Isaac. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 45, Column 1 and on Kingston, St Mary War Memorial

Rank: Petty Officer Writer

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

Pay Book Number: P/JX 125634
Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/JX 125634. (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

Jackson Geoffrey Herbert
Pay Book Number: P/M 38438
Rank: Chief Electrical Artificer
Relation: Son of William Herbert and Ruth Jackson. Grandson Andrew Jackson.

Remarks: Chief Electrical Artificer. P/M 38438. (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 32 (married to Madeline of Southsea, Hampshire) Son of William Herbert and Ruth Jackson. Grandson Andrew Jackson.

Pay Book Number: PJX137940
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: Married Kathleen. Children Tina and Nicholas.

Remarks: Able Seaman. PJX137940. January 1939 to March 1940?

Commissioned Cossack brand new and soaking wet, the cleaning ladies had just finished! Manned Y Turret. One of the first to board Altmark. He recalls an incident where he was standing over the Altmark crew, carrying a rifle with a bayonet attached, a crew member opened a door which was booby trapped and a bullet went through his arm. Had it not been for a German doctor on board the Altmark the crew member could have died.

Born 26 December 1916. Married Kathleen. Children Tina and Nicholas. Lived in Devon for 24 years after leaving Aldershot where he owned a builders merchants – Jack Jacksons. Other ships – FAULKNOR 36/37, CAMITO. Believed to have died 2014/2015.

Pay Book Number: P/JX 147419
Rank: Acting Leading Seaman
Relation: Son of Arthur Eldred and Ellen Elizabeth James of Cosham, Hampshire

Remarks: Acting Leading Seaman. P/JX 147419. (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 22 (single) Son of Arthur Eldred and Ellen Elizabeth James of Cosham, Hampshire

Pay Book Number: P/JX 147419
Rank: Acting Leading Seaman
Relation: Son of Arthur Eldred and Ellen Elizabeth James of Cosham, Hampshire.

Remarks: Missing presumed killed 23.10.41. Age 22 (single).

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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